case presentation rules

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How should a case presentation be structured?

A case study presentation entails a thorough evaluation of a particular subject, which might be an individual, group, place, event, organization, or phenomenon. This study is painstakingly arranged and interactively presented to engage the audience actively. Unlike a standard report or whitepaper, the goal of a  case study  presentation is to encourage viewers to think critically.

 Check our  Examples  to know more how we research/review/edit case report papers.

A case presentation is a structured way of communicating information about a patient to colleagues or supervisors. It is commonly used in medical and healthcare settings but can be adapted for other fields as well. Here is a general structure for a  medical case report  presentation:

• Introduction:
• Introduce yourself and your role.
• Provide a brief overview of the patient, including age, gender, and relevant background information.
• Chief Complaint (CC):
• State the reason the patient sought medical attention in their own words.
• Include the duration and any associated symptoms.
• History of Present Illness (HPI):
• Provide a detailed chronological  narrative  of the current illness, including the onset, progression, and any interventions taken.
• Include relevant positives and negatives.
• Past Medical History (PMH):
• Summarize the patient’s  past medical conditions , surgeries, and hospitalizations.
• Include any chronic illnesses, medications, and allergies.
• Medications:
• List and briefly describe the patient’s current medications, including dosage and frequency.
• Clearly state any allergies the patient has and describe the nature of the reaction.
• Social History:
• Include information about the patient’s lifestyle, occupation, habits (smoking, alcohol use, recreational  drug use ), and living situation.
• Family History:
• Provide relevant information about the patient’s family history, especially regarding  genetic  or hereditary conditions.
• Review of Systems (ROS):
• Systematically go through each organ system and inquire about symptoms.
• Include both relevant positives and negatives.
• Physical Examination:
• Summarize the findings from the physical examination.
• Include vital signs and any relevant measurements.
• Diagnostic Tests:
• Present the results of any relevant diagnostic tests, such as laboratory results, imaging studies, or procedures.
• Include normal reference ranges for context.
• Assessment:
• Provide a concise summary of the patient’s condition, highlighting the most significant issues.
• Use  medical case study  writing terminology appropriately.
• Outline the proposed plan of action, including immediate and long-term goals.
• Discuss medications, interventions, further diagnostic tests, and follow-up plans.
• Discussion/Impressions:
• Include any differential diagnoses considered and the reasoning behind the final diagnosis.
• Discuss any challenging aspects of the case or areas of uncertainty.
• Summary/Conclusion:
• Summarize the key points of the  case presentation .
• Emphasize any important takeaways or learning points.
• Questions/Comments:
• Invite questions or comments from colleagues or supervisors.
• Be prepared to discuss and defend your reasoning.

Remember to adapt the structure based on the specific requirements of your audience and the nature of the case. Keep the presentation clear, concise, and focused on the relevant details.

 Check our Blog for guidance on  guide to preparing case reports for the Journal of Medical Case Reports

In summary, a well-structured case presentation is essential for effective communication in various professional settings, including  healthcare  case reports, business, and academia. The presentation should begin with a clear introduction, providing context and setting the stage for the case. The inclusion of relevant background information, followed by a concise presentation of the facts, ensures a comprehensive understanding. The analysis and interpretation of the case should be thorough, highlighting key issues and potential solutions. A structured case report approach to presenting supporting evidence enhances credibility. Finally, a well-crafted conclusion summarizing key takeaways and recommendations leaves a lasting impression. Overall,  Pubrica  provides a systematically organized case presentation, enhances clarity, facilitates discussion, and ultimately contributes to informed decision-making.

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The elements of a case presentation

Case Presentations

Case presentation format and requirements can vary widely from site to site, from meeting to meeting, and from supervisor to supervisor. Here are the key elements commonly included in a case presentation:

Client Demographics : Start by providing basic information about the client, such as age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and any other relevant demographic details.

Presenting Problem : Describe the reason the client sought assistance or was referred for services. This could include the client's primary concerns, symptoms, or issues they are facing.

Background Information : Offer a brief overview of the client's personal history, including family dynamics, educational background, employment status, housing situation, and any significant life events that may be relevant to their current situation.

Social and Environmental Factors : Discuss the client's social support system, relationships, cultural factors, and environmental circumstances that may impact their well-being or contribute to their presenting problem.

Assessment : Present findings from assessments or evaluations conducted with the client, including their strengths, needs, risks, and protective factors. This may involve using standardized assessment tools, clinical observations, or information gathered through interviews.

Goals and Objectives : Outline the client's goals for intervention and any objectives set to achieve those goals. It's generally preferred that goals be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Intervention Plan : Describe the interventions or strategies proposed to address the client's needs and work towards their goals. This could include individual therapy, group therapy, case management, advocacy, referrals to other services, or collaboration with other professionals.

Progress to Date : Provide an update on the client's progress since the initiation of services, including any changes in their symptoms, functioning, or circumstances. Highlight successes, challenges, and areas for further attention.

Collaboration and Coordination : Discuss any collaboration or coordination efforts with other professionals, agencies, or community resources involved in the client's care. This could include interdisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, or referrals to external service providers.

Plan for Continued Support : Outline the next steps in the intervention process, including ongoing monitoring, adjustments to the intervention plan as needed, and plans for follow-up or discharge.

Ethical and Legal Considerations : Address any ethical dilemmas or legal issues relevant to the case, ensuring that interventions are in line with professional standards and legal requirements.

Reflection and Supervision Needs : Reflect on the case presentation, identifying lessons learned, challenges encountered, and areas where further supervision or support may be needed to enhance practice effectiveness and client outcomes.

By including these elements in a case presentation, social workers can effectively communicate important information about their clients' needs, progress, and plans for intervention while promoting collaboration and accountability within multidisciplinary teams.

Here's a sample case presentation--using all of the above--for a hypothetical client named "Sarah," who is seeking assistance for depression and anxiety:

Client Demographics:

• Sarah is a 32-year-old Caucasian woman.
• She lives alone in an apartment in downtown.
• Sarah is employed full-time as a marketing assistant in a local firm.

Presenting Problem:

• Sarah presents with symptoms of depression and anxiety, reporting feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worry that have been persistent for the past six months.
• She states that she has difficulty sleeping and concentrating at work due to intrusive thoughts and worries about her performance.

Background Information:

• Sarah grew up in a middle-class family with both parents and an older brother.
• She describes her childhood as generally happy but notes that her parents divorced when she was in high school, which was a significant stressor.
• Sarah completed a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration but struggled to find stable employment after graduation, which contributed to her feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Social and Environmental Factors:

• Sarah reports feeling socially isolated since moving to the city for work two years ago.
• She has few close friends in the area and does not have much contact with her family, who live in another state.
• Sarah's apartment is clean and well-kept, but she mentions feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities of living independently.

Assessment:

• Client has moderate-severe symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
• Sarah demonstrates strengths in her ability to articulate her feelings and seek help, as well as her commitment to attending therapy sessions regularly.

Goals and Objectives:

• Objective: Decrease self-reported symptoms by 50% within three months through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.
• Objective: Participate in at least one social activity outside of work per week.

Intervention Plan:

• Weekly individual therapy sessions using CBT to address negative thought patterns and develop coping skills.
• Psychoeducation on relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and stress management strategies.
• Referral to a psychiatrist for medication evaluation and management if indicated.
• Encouragement of participation in community events or interest-based groups to expand social connections.

Progress to Date:

• Sarah has attended three therapy sessions and reports some improvement in her mood and sleep patterns.
• She has expressed interest in joining a local book club and has initiated contact with the group organizer.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Coordination with Sarah's primary care physician to monitor any physical health concerns related to her mental health symptoms.
• Collaboration with the HR department at Sarah's workplace to explore accommodations or support services that may be available to her as an employee.

Plan for Continued Support:

• Continue weekly therapy sessions with regular progress assessments.
• Monitor medication compliance and effectiveness if psychiatric referral is pursued.
• Encourage ongoing participation in social activities and provide support as needed.

Ethical and Legal Considerations:

• Ensure confidentiality and informed consent in all aspects of treatment.
• Adhere to professional ethical guidelines and standards of practice in providing care to Sarah.

Reflection and Supervision Needs:

• Reflect on the therapeutic relationship and explore any countertransference issues that may arise.
• Seek supervision or consultation as needed to address complex case dynamics or ethical dilemmas.

On the Exam

Thankfully, the ASWB is multiple choice. You will not be asked to do a case presentation to pass the test. The topic may still appear looking something like this:

• Which of the following elements is typically included in a case presentation?
• In a case presentation, what is the purpose of discussing the client's social and environmental factors?
• Why is it important to address ethical and legal considerations in a case presentation?

And, of course, you'll encounter lots of vignette questions--themselves like mini case presentations--asking you to assess, diagnose, choose a FIRST or NEXT step, etc.

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Resources and information all Self-reps need.

15 skills for effective presentations in court.

Representing yourself requires a certain skill set. We’re providing you with a set of 15 skills that you need to be persuasive in presenting your case. Keep these in the back of your mind throughout the process and you’ll be ready to rock the courtroom.

Part of the benefit of working with The Family Law Coach is that we can provide you with the assistance you need to gain these skills before and during the process. When you’ve gone through this list, check out the Services offered by The Family Law Coach to see how we can help you help yourself.

Skill 1. Telling the judge why you’re in court, and what you want, in just one or two sentences.

Many self-reps feel that finally being in front of a judge gives them the chance to “tell my story” and get a whole lot of grievances and complaints off their chest. They want to vent about all of the injustices and wrongs done to them and how bad the other party is. The judge may look interested, but is this effective? No.

Just because a judge is being patient, and waiting until you get to the point, doesn’t mean he or she is agreeing with you. They’re working hard to pull out the relevant details to help them make a decision. The harder the judge has to concentrate to get the information he or she needs, the more difficult it is to make a decision in your favour.

You need to be concise and practice the skill to put your complaints aside and deal with only 2 questions: Why are you here? What result do you want?

Make sure to take the time to rehearse the answers to each question so you can state your position in a loud and intelligible voice. Here are some concrete examples.

“Judge, I’m here to change the access arrangements from the existing order to the terms set out in the schedule attached to my notice of motion. Essentially I’m asking for a more flexible arrangement than the one now in place.”

“Your Honour, I’m here because In lost my job 6 months ago and the best new job I could get pays less than what I was earning when I agreed to child support of $879 per month. I need an order for reduced support payments, but my former wife won’t agree.”

“Judge, my former wife is asking that she be allowed to move to a different city because she’s planning to marry her boyfriend who lives there. But that will have a disastrous effect on the time the children and I have together and the nature of our time together, and I’m opposing her request for that reason.”

“Your Honour, my former partner has been interfering with my access to our children by making last minute changes in arrangements to suit her/his convenience without consulting me, cancelling visits unilaterally, and generally refusing to comply with the terms of our access order. I’m asking that she/he be found in contempt and that the order require that the terms be complied with or the residential arrangements for the children are to be changed to me.”

In each case it took only 2 sentences to give the court a good idea of what the matter is about, both side’s positions, and your suggested solution.

This is called the Tim Horton’s Pitch: what you tell the person in line for morning coffee when they ask what you’re doing today so you can be finished before it’s their turn to order.

But more than simply being brief, it shows that you respect the system and the court’s time by being clear and to the point. So long as what you say is truthful and supported by the evidence, it shows that you’re a trustworthy person to whom the judge should pay attention. It’s a terrific way to be effective.

Skill 2. Practice, practice, practice

It’s not easy to get the reason you’re in court into just a few, clear, sentences. It takes practice. Thinking that you can ad lib this when the judge looks at you to speak is a big mistake. Good lawyers take lots of time to get their case into the important first few sentences. They try doing it different ways. And they practice saying it out loud.

Some of us convince ourselves that we know our case so well that we don’t need to practice anything. Others convince ourselves that our matter is so complex and involves so many details that we can’t get it into a couple of sentences. We think the judge needs to hear everything in order to understand what the case is about. And some of us convince ourselves we’re just no good at talking on our feet and we won’t be able to tell the court what we want it to know.

That sort of thinking creates mental blocks that hold us back. One trick to overcoming this is practice.

Write down what you want to say. Read it over and change it to what the judge needs to know. Try different ways to present your case to see what works best for you. Then shorten it until you get what the judge needs to know into 2 -3 sentences.

Write down whatever you want to say in point form. Make each point only one or two sentences. Re-arrange the points into a logical sequence. Look at what you’ve written for each point and see if it can be shortened. Then practice saying it out loud in front of a mirror or to someone you trust and can give you feedback.

The more you practice the easier it will be to tell the judge, and the more comfortable you’ll be in court. Pro athletes practice before every game. So should you.

Skill 3. Avoid the nasty

Personal attacks hurt your case. You may be tempted to put negative things about the other party in your material or presentation, but you need to be able to resist that temptation.

Spending time to complain about the other person and all the nasty things that they did hurts your case. If it’s not relevant, you’re wasting the judge’s time and making it harder for him or her to understand the important information. If you turn off the judge with your whining and complaining, he or she might miss hearing the important things you have to say.

If, however, the conduct of the other party is really relevant to the issue, make it clear why the information is important to the judge’s decision. For example, if the behaviour shows that the other party says inappropriate things front of the children, or if he or she acts without judgement.

Making things relevant to the issues the judge has to decide, instead of leaving them as a personal attack on the other person, makes your comments far more powerful and effective. Judges don’t like hearing negative personal attacks.

Skill 4. Writing in an clear and logical way

Much of the key work in creating an effective case is done before you stand up to speak. It’s in the written material the judge reads in the file. What you write and how you write it is the first step in showing the judge why the court should give you what you want.

Are you able to set out your story, what you want, and why you should get it, in a clear and understandable way? You need to be able to organize what you need to say in a way that makes sense to the judge. Just like what you say to the judge when you’re speaking, what you say to the judge in your writing needs to be clear and easy to understand.

The key to good legal writing is re-writing. Go over what you’ve written and then ask yourself: “If a stranger didn’t know anything about my case would they get a good idea of what it’s about and why they should agree with me, or would they find parts of what I’ve written confusing? Will they get my point? Is what I’ve written difficult to read or easy?”

Then start over and re-write everything. Show it to someone. Ask them to help you be more clear and focussed. Remember why you’re writing the document – it’s not to get everything of your chest, it’s to give the judge the information he or she needs to understand what you’re asking for and to encourage them to give it to you.

If you can do this, you’ll find your written material to be a really effective way of getting a judge to want to help you, even before your case is called.

Skill 5. Gathering the relevant information and staying on top of the materials you need

You may have to gather information as part of your case. You may need to get correct bank statements to show what money was in different bank accounts, or account statements to show the value of investments or RRSPs, at key dates. You may need copies of Insurance policies or property ownership papers, or tax and utility bills. Perhaps you’ll need information from your employer or doctor.

They key to gathering information effectively is to create a list and check it off as it’s collected. Keep it in one place and keep it organized and you’ll be good to go.

Skill 6. Being Organized

It’s important to be able to organize your material. Do you have the various exhibits and supporting material you need to support your story? Can you collect the documents and evidence you need to support your position? Can you put your material into a sensible and organized structure?

If you can do this, great. If that’s not what you do well, ask a friend or family member to help you organizing everything. Taking the time to organize your materials helps you to organize your case and present it to the judge in an effective way.

Skill 7. Being a good researcher

In some cases a bit of research is needed to collect the information and evidence that supports your story. You may also need to gather legal information. Will you be able to do your own research? Do you know how to do it?

Skill 8. Being on time and knowing how to wait

Court matters are filled with deadlines. Are you able to get your papers filed on time and show up in court when scheduled?

Do you have the time to get to the court office and to get the information you need? Are you able to explain what you want and do you have the patience, if needed, to go from one court office to another until you get it?

If you’re late submitting documents or in showing up to court, this could have a very serious impact on your outcome.

It’s not uncommon for a self-rep to find that they’ve gone to the wrong counter or wrong office are in the wrong line or have the wrong papers with them. It’s important that you recognize this at the beginning, give yourself lots of time and have patience.

And patience is an important thing to bring with you whenever you have to deal with the court offices. Often the lines are long. Give yourself lots of time. The family court process is going to have a long-term impact on your life and it’s worth taking extra time so you can avoid being late.

Skill 9. Paying attention to detail

Are you able to pay attention to detail? For example, before beginning to fill in a blank on a form do you read the instructions to be sure you’re filling it out properly? Have you attached all the documents you refer to in your materials? When you refer to a section of some legislation, have you checked to be sure you’ve got the right number and reference?

If you’re missing any details or fill out a form wrong, it will be harder for the judge to rule in your favour. So it helps your case if you’ve been careful about everything before you file it with the court office.

Skill 10. Understanding the appropriate Guidelines that affect your case

Have you looked at the Child Support Guidelines or the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines to be sure that what you’re saying about them is accurate? Have you checked out the sections you’ll be referring to and do you understand them?

There are guides available for each the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines and the Child Support Guidelines. Read and understand them. It will help you be effective in presenting your case.

Skill 11. Distancing yourself

There’s a phrase in legal circles: “A lawyer who acts for himself has a fool for a client.” It means that the best person to represent you is someone who isn’t emotionally connected to your case. As a self-rep, you’re acting for yourself, so of course you’re emotionally connected.

So the skill here is to be as objective and realistic as possible. Be practical and rational instead of emotional. You can only be effective if you’re not all worked up about the case. This isn’t easy. But it’s important. Can you do it?

Try to look at the case from the perspective of a person who doesn’t know you and doesn’t know the other party.

Acting rationally includes recognizing the weak parts of your case and dropping them. This will help you maintain realistic expectations and help you focus your presentation. Think about what stranger would need to know to give you what you want, and if that person would think you deserve it.

You need to be objective about the case and your positions.

Skill 12. Knowing your motivation and remove the destructive elements from your position

Are you motivated to fight so that the other person doesn’t “win,” or get an “easy victory”? Are you motivated by jealousy or revenge? Do you want to punish the other person for what they did to you or your family? Tough. Those aren’t reasons to fight in court and won’t get you anywhere. Do you have the skill to remove these factors from your thinking?

Knowing why you’re really taking your positions will help you shape a more effective presentation. If your positions are motivated by one of the factors mentioned above – re-think your approach. At least, re-frame it so that you can present a more positive position that will get you the results you want.

Skill 13. Separating money issues from the kids

Do you have the skill to consider what’s best for the kids even if that means getting less money, or paying more money, than you wanted?

Not everyone is able to admit when continuing the fight will be harmful to the children. Can you put their interests ahead of yours?

Very often that’s what the case comes down to, and you’ll do better if you recognize this before a judge does.

Skill 14. Standing up to a bully

Are you able to stake out a reasonable position and stick to it despite threats and bullying from the other party? First, you have to recognize when you’re dealing with a bully. A bully is someone who uses:

• manipulation
• personal attacks

You may have given in lots of times in the past to keep things together, but do you have the skill now to say enough is enough? A bully knows what sort of tactics worked well in the past and will try to use them against you in court. Can you stand your ground now? That doesn’t mean you need to retaliate. It means maintaining your position and clearly stating that position to the judge.

The interesting thing about bullies is that they get away with their conduct so often that they assume you’ll give in again. If you stand up to a bully, a judge can usually see what’s happening and put that bully in their place.

Often, standing up to a bully starts with just saying “No. Enough. I’m not giving in again.”

Skill 15. Knowing what you’re good at

The truth is that not everyone is terrific at each of these things. Not even lawyers. The trick is to recognize which skills you have and are good at and which ones you need to work on. Keep in mind that that all of us can use some help from time to time and don’t hesitate to ask for it. You may have a family member or a friend who is better at one of these skills than you. See if they’ll help you out. If they can’t, maybe they know someone who can.

Use your strengths as best you can and don’t pretend to be good at something you’re not. Get the help you need so you can present your case as effectively and persuasively as possible.

Unbundled services

If you need help with one of the skills listed above, it’s a smart move to get some assistance – to seek out someone to offer coaching about how to handle yourself, or to get advice about strategy, or some help with preparing the documents you need, or to give you the legal advice you’re missing.

If you can’t afford, or don’t want, to hire a lawyer to take over your case in the traditional full retainer model, then seeking out fixed fee services, also known as “unbundled services” could be the solution you need.

With unbundled services, a lawyer will agree to help you with part of your matter but not take over all of your case. It might be to prepare documents for you or to appear in court for you. Or it might be to spend time with you going over your documents and discussing strategy.

The Family Law Coach

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No up-front retainer. No need to travel to a lawyer’s office. No uncertainty about the cost.

With just a computer or a phone you access to a lawyer who can provide coaching in the skills you need to succeed in the courtroom.

Check out our Services and choose the one that’s right for you.

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THE APPELLATE INSIDER BLOG

The Importance of Presentation in Appellate Cases

by PHP | Jul 18, 2024

Everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Steve Jobs has been credited with coining some version of the adage, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” No matter who said it first, the idea seems particularly apt for lawyers mounting an appeal.

Consider one of the key elements appellate lawyers can use to influence the future success of a case: presentation—specifically, the way an appeal is organized and filed with the court.

In appellate courts, cases are often decided on the briefs. Lawyers who present their documents with care and precision increase the odds that judges will be able to follow the narrative, understand key points, and recognize the merits of a case. Conversely, a poor presentation can obscure arguments and create confusion. If court rules haven’t been followed, potentially lead to the rejection of documents and even a dismissal.

With six decades of experience, PHP has a deep understanding of how valuable an appellate services provider’s support can be in presenting a case. With PHP’s assistance, lawyers deliver clear, well-structured, compliant appellate filings that create the best possible impression on the court.

Clarity and Precision Are Key

An appellate brief allows the attorney to articulate clear, compelling arguments and highlight errors made during the trial. When drafting a brief, clarity and precision are paramount. Each argument must be concise and directly support the case, backed by strong evidence and legal precedent.

Those arguments can be undermined, however, if the brief doesn’t follow formatting and submission rules. Attorneys should have a clear understanding that each appellate court may have its own unique requirements. This can include specific technical standards for margins, font size, headings, and the organization of materials within the appeal.

In addition to complying with the court’s general rules for document formatting, electronically filed documents can have additional formatting rules. The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division’s joint rules, for example, require e-filed documents to:

• comply with text searchable PDF archival format (PDF/A),
• contain bookmarks linking the tables of contents of briefs and records to the corresponding page of the document,
• be paginated to correspond to the hard copy,
• be scanned at a resolution sufficient to ensure legibility.

Those same rules give the Appellate Division wide latitude to reject filings that fail to follow the rules. They state: “The clerk may refuse to accept for filing or e-filing any document that does not comply with…any applicable statute, rule or order, or is otherwise unsuitable for filing.”

Relieving the Burden on Attorneys

Clearly, overlooking a court’s technical requirements can put a case at risk. Yet lawyers face another danger. If they are spending too much time focused on granular issues like a file format or font, they can be distracted from the primary task of crafting a clear and compelling argument.

PHP can help relieve the burden on attorneys. The company has an intimate knowledge of court rules and can manage all of the technical details associated with filing an appeal. PHP also ensures the accuracy of its work with painstaking quality control. Its systems are designed to preemptively catch and correct errors before submission. This includes checks for compliance with formatting rules. The company’s e-filing experts also manually check each filing to confirm its accuracy and adherence to court requirements.

The record must be thorough, easy to navigate, and compliant with court requirements. PHP assists in organizing records and appendices, ensuring that all necessary forms are included and that all documents are correctly arranged. A well-organized record allows judges to find and reference documents without hassle. This can significantly impact their view of an appeal.

Each court has strict deadlines. Missing a key due date or time can prove fatal to an appeal. Attorneys working with PHP are kept on track and receive notifications about the status of their appellate filing and can track servicing and filings online. PHP also notifies attorneys of their oral argument and decision dates for their appeals.

A Strong Presentation Takes Preparation

While no one can guarantee the future, attorneys can certainly improve their presentation—and their chances on appeal—with meticulous preparation. By ensuring they have adhered to filing requirements and submitting a well-organized and comprehensive record, attorneys can avoid having their documents rejected or distracting judges with improperly formatted or incomplete material. Partnering with an experienced appellate services provider like PHP allows attorneys to further improve their prospects. They can focus on their arguments and narrative, while PHP worries about the preparation of the record and technical details.

To learn more about our approach and how we help lawyers present their appeals in the best possible light, contact us for a consultation.

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