“That’s not a brief. That’s a shopping bag full of paper. Also, why is it moist?”

Quick Link: Sorting out PDF page numbers

📄 Sample Electronic Brief & Summary

Brief.pdf

The attached is a overly simplified example of how to assemble an electronic brief. As this guide explains, there are no hard-and-fast rules about how to prepare a brief. This file should not be used as a template. However, it may provide a useful starting point.

Summary of how I want my briefs if you're too busy to read all this

In summary:

  1. Page numbers or I will murder you. Use the above guide to make the page numbers match the PDF page numbers.
  2. If you put your entire file in a brief I will send it back. Unlike most of this guide this is not meant to be funny. I will actually do it and my costs agreement allows me to.
  3. If you can, send both a hard copy and electronic brief unless I say otherwise (ask me). I probably only need electronic. But if I have to print a hard copy I may have to charge you. The cost of printing on my floor is around 50c - $1 a page (I know, right?)
  4. A Single PDF ****file. Do not split it over multiple files and send me a thousand e-mails. If you want me to edit a Word document emailing that is OK. Also a link to a video is fine by way of email (if you can link the video in a PDF you win an award for being a PDF wizard).
  5. I am not singing up for your awful file sharing software. Find a way to send it in a way where I only have to click a link. Do not make the link expire (set it to expire in 99 years if you have to). Microsoft SharePoint is the worst but if you can make it work that it's fine. An email with a Google Drive link is better. If this is too hard (or there's sensitive information) just post a USB drive.
  6. Proper observations are useful (see below). They are not essential in a simple case (like a motion or Crash and Bash)
  7. Use PDF bookmarks if there is time with numbers (1. Pleadings, 2. Evidence etc). It would be nice if they correspond with tabs in a hard copy brief but not essential.
  8. Do not insert pages for “tab numbers” in an electronic brief. Out of spite I will charge you a day fee for removing those pages.