A two-week trial is about nine or ten court days. The published advice on what to bring is thinner than you would expect, so I have marked what comes from a source and what is my own read.
The clothes
Women. Corporette's "What to Wear for a Month in Court" says to bring about three or four dark suits in black, navy, brown or gray, and to change what you wear under the jacket: a collared shirt one day, a silk tee another, a turtleneck with a scarf. The post was first published in 2010 and updated in February 2025. Its writer knew a woman on a bench trial that ran nine months or more who owned roughly seven suits, mostly pantsuits.
For two weeks, my read is that three suits is enough. That is my inference, not a published number.
Corporette also says to wear skirts for the first few days until you learn the judge and the courtroom, then decide from there. It says to skip logo bags, sparkle, large jewelry and red-soled shoes. Pack simple camisoles in quantity, because they need washing, and slip shorts if you wear a skirt without hose. For shoes: low heels, pointed-toe flats, or foldable flats for lunch runs.
Men. Dan Small of Holland & Knight said on a January 2025 podcast that men should wear a conventional-cut business suit with standard-color shirts and ties. Skip the double-breasted padded suit, the bold shirt and the loud tie. Dress for the local court.
Everyone. Advocate magazine (January 2023) says to put a few days of trial clothes in your carry-on in case the checked bag is lost. It also says to wear dress shoes you already know are comfortable, and not to change your wardrobe to match the locals. Scott Greenfield, writing on Simple Justice in 2017, quotes a lawyer who wished he had brought more shirts, ties and underwear. Greenfield says to bring a shirt or two beyond what you think you need.
On arrival, find a local dry cleaner. The Texas Paralegal Journal says so. Law360 and Advocate both say to check the city and the season, and to bring rain gear or winter footwear.
Check the court's rules before you pack tech
Courts differ, and judges differ within courts. Two examples:
- District of New Jersey, Local Civil Rule 501.1. Cell phones, laptops and tablets may enter the courthouse after screening. They must be rendered inoperable in courtrooms unless use is authorized. A judge may ban all devices in a case. Photography and recording are barred.
- District of Maryland, Standing Order 2016-05. Counsel may bring devices after screening. They stay off in courtrooms unless the judge permits. They may be confiscated and inspected for violations.
The Eastern District of Virginia's policy, effective May 23, 2025, puts phones in locked pouches and requires a judge's prior authorization for tablets and laptops. It has no fast lane for attorneys.
So get the judge's trial procedures and the courthouse's standing order in writing before you decide what goes in the bag. Ask what equipment the court provides, and ask for time to test your slides and exhibits. Advocate and the ABA Litigation Journal both say so.
The tech kit
Trial teams in the sources I read bring:
- a printer and a scanner, with spare toner, paper, a stapler and a hole punch
- a wireless router or a personal 5G hotspot
- surge protectors and extension cords
- power banks for the laptop and phone
- a second laptop as a backup
- USB drives and a full copy of the file on an external drive
- FedEx shipping supplies and packing tape
Those come from Edna Garza in the Texas Paralegal Journal (2017), Advocate (2023) and Jeffrey Allen in the ABA's GPSolo magazine (2023). Advocate also says to bring someone whose job is the technology.
Carry it or ship it
An airline bag costs money each way. American charges $50 for a first checked bag ($45 online) and $60 for a second ($55 online) for Main Cabin tickets issued on or after Apr. 9, 2026. Delta charges $45 and $55. A Fortune report from Apr. 3, 2026 puts United at $45 and $55. I did not confirm United's fee on united.com. [Confirm all three before publication.]
Washington Express publishes a war room guide that says to decide early what ships ahead and what you carry. It says to label and prioritize boxes, reserve the hotel's loading dock or freight elevator, and name a contact for pickup and delivery. I could not find a source that compares airline bag fees with FedEx or UPS. Price your own boxes both ways.
You
Bring food for the room, a coffee maker and creamer, and ask for a mini fridge. Advocate suggests listing five things you enjoy on a normal day and keeping as many as you can: a treadmill after court, dinner with your family by video. The ABA Litigation Journal says a walk after court or at lunch can help more than extra hours.
I could not confirm TSA's current rules on medication. Read them at tsa.gov before you pack.
Articles, court rules and airline pages read Nov. 5, 2026. Nothing on this page is sponsored.
Sources
Corporette, "What to Wear for a Month in Court" · Holland & Knight, "Getting Dressed for Court," Jan. 14, 2025 · Advocate, "Leaving town to try a case," January 2023 · Scott Greenfield, Simple Justice, Apr. 30, 2017 · Edna Garza, Texas Paralegal Journal, 2017 · Brandon Lowrey, Law360, Sept. 15, 2015 (reprint) · D.N.J. Local Civil Rule 501.1 · D. Md. Standing Order 2016-05 · E.D. Va. courthouse entrance policy, May 23, 2025 · Jeffrey Allen, "Mobile Lawyer's Tool Kit," ABA GPSolo, 2023 · Washington Express, War Room Guide · American Airlines checked bag fees · Delta baggage · Fortune, Apr. 3, 2026 · ABA Litigation Journal, "Away Games," fall 2023