Practice mode · Civil Trial Practice
Civil trial practice: win the lawsuit in front of a jury
In most civil trials the plaintiff has to prove the case by a preponderance of the evidence, so every part builds toward that: an opening that tells the story and what the evidence will show, direct examinations that let your witnesses tell it, crosses made of short leading questions, and a closing that ties the evidence to the jury instructions. Practice any part of a civil case out loud, in front of a judge who rules on objections and a jury that decides liability and damages.
No signup: 4 free rounds now (a round is one back-and-forth). A free account gives you 7. Then $4.99 for 100 rounds, one time. No subscription.
Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- You are a law student who wants to try a civil case out loud before a real jury.
- You are a new lawyer preparing for your first civil trial and want feedback.
- You are practicing for mock trial or a trial advocacy class and need a full case.
- You want to work a famous case like the hot coffee case or the Ford Pinto case.
What happens
How a session goes
- You choose a case: Liebeck v. McDonald's, Grimshaw v. Ford, Solis v. Calloway Rentals, Wren v. Dunleavy, or your own case.
- You choose your side: plaintiff or defendant, and the judge: fair, strict, or impatient.
- You pick what to practice: opening statement, direct exam, cross-exam, or closing argument.
Real lines from a test session
What the AI said in a test session
“Good morning, counsel. The record reflects the case of Grimshaw and the Gray heirs against Ford Motor Company. You may proceed with your closing argument on behalf of the plaintiffs.”
“Counsel, I will permit you to continue, but note that the jury heard testimony that Exhibit 33 was a draft proposal, not an approved company directive, and that Mr. Copp's specific conversation with Mr. MacDonald…”
“Thank you, counsel. The jury has heard the evidence and the arguments. You may be seated. I will now instruct the jury on the law and you will retire to deliberate.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like in a test run
“Exhibit 72, the alternate design schematic, and heard Dr. Arning’s testimony that a plastic shield would have cost about four dollars per vehicle.”
You invented an exhibit and witness testimony that were not in the record, drawing a second sustained objection.
Try instead: “You heard Mr. Copp testify that Ford had feasible, inexpensive fixes available that they chose not to implement.”
What went well: You effectively referenced the crash test films and Harley Copp's testimony to argue conscious disregard.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- Command of the record: you cite the exhibits and testimony the jury heard, not facts from outside the case.
- Structure and persuasion: your opening and closing have a clear story with a beginning, middle, and end.
- Handling the court: you stay calm when the judge rules on an objection or cuts you off.
- Courtroom presence: you speak clearly and keep your place even when the other side pushes back.
Scored on:
- Command of the record
- Structure & persuasion
- Handling the court
- Courtroom presence
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “The evidence will show my client was hurt and deserves money.”
Better: “The evidence will show that the coffee was served at 180 degrees, and that my client suffered third-degree burns.”
The weak line is a conclusion with no record facts the jury can hold onto.
Weak: “I object, that's not fair.”
Better: “Objection, Your Honor. The question calls for speculation beyond what this witness saw.”
A real objection names a legal ground, not a feeling.
Weak: “You're lying about what happened that day, aren't you?”
Better: “You told the police the light was green. Today you say it was red. Which is it?”
Cross works with prior statements, not with an accusation.
Weak: “So then he told you the car was safe, right?”
Better: “What exact words did Mr. Copp use when he told you the Pinto was safe?”
An open question lets the witness give the damaging detail in their own words.
Civil Trial Practice: set the scene in a few seconds, or pick a ready-made scenario.
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Your civil trial practice practice plan
- Organize the claims and supplied facts
- Explain the relevance of each piece of evidence
- Answer the court directly
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
Need repeated practice? $4.99 once buys 100 rounds across every mode and full coaching on every report. Rounds never expire; no subscription is required.
FAQ
Questions about Civil Trial Practice
What cases can I practice in civil trial practice?
You can pick Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants (the hot coffee case), Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Co. (the Ford Pinto fuel tank case), Solis v. Calloway Rentals, or Wren Custom Remodeling v. Dunleavy. You can also describe your own case. Each one puts you in front of a judge and a jury. Try it free →
What does the judge do during the session?
The judge rules on your objections and the other side's objections. You choose the judge's style: fair, strict, or impatient. A fair judge lets you try your case. A strict judge holds you to the rules. An impatient judge cuts you off. The judge also instructs the jury at the end. Try it free →
How does the jury decide my case?
At the end of the session, the jury decides liability and damages. That means they say who is responsible and how much money, if any, is owed. You do not control the verdict. You control your openings, your questions, and your closings. Try it free →
What is the difference between direct and cross-examination?
On direct, you question your own witness with open questions (who, what, when, how) so they tell the story. On cross, you question the other side’s witness with short leading questions that each assert one fact and invite a yes, so you, not the witness, control the story. Try it free →
Training practice, not legal advice.
Try Civil Trial Practice free
4 free rounds now, no signup. 7 with a free account. Then $4.99 for 100 rounds, one time, with no subscription. Plans are there if you practice every day.
Try it free, no signupBuilt by Matthew, a solo founder. Questions? Email support@getadversaryai.com, I read every message.