The War Room Advantage: How to Set Up a Productive Legal Workspace for Trial Success

Set your legal team up for success with flexible, professional trial workspaces—delivered fast and designed to adapt to your evolving needs.

Why Legal Teams Need the Right Workspace for High-Stakes Trials

Some of the most critical legal work happens outside of your firm’s offices and beyond the courtroom walls. When preparing for complex, high-stakes cases, legal teams often need to relocate to a new city or region—sometimes for weeks or months at a time—to stay close to the action, maintain confidentiality, or meet specific logistical needs.

But setting up a temporary workspace shouldn’t mean sacrificing focus, security, or professionalism. Trial teams need more than makeshift hotel ballrooms or under-equipped temporary offices. They need a well-organized, secure, and adaptable environment that supports long hours, collaboration, and shifting case demands.

Without the right workspace, distractions pile up, logistics become a headache, and your attorneys’ ability to deliver their best work can suffer.

The Problem with Makeshift Trial Workspaces: Why Hotels and Temporary Options Fall Short

We’ve seen it too many times—legal teams trying to piece together functional spaces in hotels or unfamiliar office settings, only to end up with:

• Disorganization: Lack of proper layout, storage, and workstations disrupts workflow.
• Security risks: Sensitive materials and discussions happening in unsecured environments.
• Decreased morale and focus: Teams working long hours in uncomfortable, uninspiring spaces.
• Wasted time and resources: Scrambling to source, move, or manage furniture and supplies in unfamiliar locations.

As Scott Teich of CORT puts it:

“They want to make sure they’re working in a place they’re comfortable with and not feel like they’re sitting in a hotel ballroom trying to do their best… which could be a multimillion-dollar case.”

What Is Furniture-as-a-Service (FaaS) and Why Law Firms Use It for Trial Workspaces

Furniture-as-a-Service (FaaS) offers law firms a flexible, efficient alternative to traditional furniture purchasing or relying on what’s already available. Instead of owning or managing furniture assets, firms rent high-quality furnishings on flexible terms, tailored specifically to their trial needs.

It’s all about access over ownership—giving your legal team the workspace they need without the capital commitment, storage concerns, or logistical headaches of ownership.

However, not all FaaS solutions are created equal. That’s where CORT’s long-standing expertise makes a difference.

How CORT’s FaaS Model Supports Law Firms in High-Pressure Trial Environments

The CORT Furniture-as-a-Service™ (FaaS) model is purpose-built for legal teams preparing for demanding cases:

• Fast, Seamless Setup: Fully operational, professional trial workspaces delivered and installed in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
• Scalability: As your trial progresses, your needs evolve. Add or remove furnishings without penalties or delays.
• Expert Planning & Design: We configure every workspace for peak efficiency—secure storage, ergonomic seating, and collaborative layouts included.
• Professional, High-Quality Furnishings: Law firms trust us to uphold the sophisticated, polished image their clients expect.
• End-to-End Logistics Support: No need to worry about transportation, warehousing, or breakdown—we handle every step.

Real-World Challenges: Setting Up Temporary Trial War Rooms Quickly and Securely

Over the years, we’ve seen many law firms encounter the same workspace challenges during high-stakes trials. Whether it’s setting up a trial preparation room close to the courthouse, managing a temporary influx of attorneys, or adjusting to unpredictable trial schedules, the need for a reliable, adaptable space is constant.

CORT helps legal teams overcome these obstacles by providing secure, fully furnished workspaces within 24-48 hours—spaces designed to evolve with the trial, not hold you back.

Hear Scott Teich explain how CORT’s flexible solutions give legal teams the edge when setting up trial war rooms:

This audio clip was part of CORT Workplace Talks, if you would like to listen to the entire episode, please click here.

Why Renting Beats Buying or Using Hotel Furniture for Legal War Rooms

When setting up a trial workspace, law firms often weigh three options:

Buying furniture, using hotel-provided banquet furniture, or renting specialized furnishings.

Why Hotel Banquet Furniture Falls Short

Using hotel-provided tables and chairs may seem convenient, but it often creates more problems than it solves:

• Lack of Ergonomic Support: Banquet chairs and tables are designed for short events, not extended workdays. Over time, this discomfort impacts team focus and productivity.
• Inflexible Configurations: Standard banquet setups limit your ability to customize the workspace for collaboration, confidentiality, or strategy sessions.
• Unprofessional Aesthetic: Basic hotel furniture may clash with your firm’s polished image.
• Technology Limitations: Often missing essentials like data ports, power sources, or adequate storage options.

Why Purchasing Furniture for Trial Workspaces Is a Costly Mistake

Some firms attempt to buy furnishings, thinking it offers more control. In reality, it ties up capital and introduces unnecessary complexity:

• Capital Investment: Large upfront expenses take funds away from critical trial needs like expert consultants or technology.
• Storage and Logistics: Post-trial, firms face the challenge of moving, storing, or disposing of bulky items.
• Inflexibility: Purchased furniture can’t adapt to changing trial needs, leading to wasted resources.
• Disposition Issues: Reselling or removing unused furniture adds extra time and expense.

Why Renting from CORT Provides the Smartest Solution

When you rent from CORT, you avoid the pitfalls of both hotel setups and furniture purchases. Instead, you gain:

• Financial Flexibility: No capital drain—funds stay focused on winning the case.
• Operational Ease: We handle delivery, setup, breakdown, and any necessary reconfiguration.
• Scalability: Quickly adapt your space as the trial progresses without penalties or hassle.
• Professional, High-Quality Environment: Your workspace will reflect your firm’s standards, not the hotel’s limitations.

Sustainability Matters: Renting for Trial Workspaces Reduces Waste

Beyond operational benefits, renting also supports your firm’s sustainability goals. CORT’s circular business model keeps furniture in use longer, minimizing landfill waste and reducing the need for constant manufacturing.

It’s an approach that’s not only smarter—it’s responsible.

Ready to Set Your Legal Team Up for Trial Success?

When your team is preparing for a high-stakes case, workspace logistics shouldn’t be a distraction. CORT provides fast, flexible, and professional trial workspace solutions so your attorneys can stay focused on what matters—winning the case.

Contact CORT today to create a customized war room workspace solution tailored to your trial needs.