If you make incorrect deductions in a courtroom trial, the Judge can give you penalties to punish said incorrect deductions. If you have enough penalties, you will "lose" the trial, resulting in you being trounced and your client being declared automatically guilty by the judge.

Investigation sessions occur outside of the courtroom. Usually in investigations you search for evidence, interview witnesses, and investigate the scene of the crime.

Trials take place in the District Court, a courtroom based on the Japanese judicial system. You, the defense attorney, participate in a criminal bench trial, representing your defendant against the accusations of the prosecution. Your main method of "attack" (figuratively speaking) is through cross-examinations of witnesses brought forth by the prosecutions. Cross-examinations can lead to the uncovering of contradictions between testimony and evidence, as well as new information and even an opportunity for you to call a witness. Incorrect deductions can lead to the Judge giving you penalties.

The Court Record is a necessary element in courtroom trials and cases. All evidence and POI (person of interest) profiles are stored in the court record for you to use in a trial or for other purposes. The Court Record is accessible at any time, and you can use or present evidence and profiles when pointing out contradictions in witness testimonies or when talking to people outside of trials. Pieces of evidence and profiles are added to or updated in the Court Record at any time, even during courtroom trials.

Courtroom trials are based on the Japanese judicial/legal/justice system, where defendants are guilty until proven innocent, new evidence is added or updated mid-trial, guilty verdicts are sometimes handed to a witness instead of the defendant, there is no jury, the prosecutors have more power, are ruthless and cunning, and will do anything to keep their perfect track record. However, you can go against all odds in this turnabout trial to prove your client innocent and find the real culprit guilty.

Following a Witness Testimony is a Cross-Examination, where a Witness Testimony is repeated verbatim, but you are able to press the witness (while saying "HOLD IT!") for more info (often expanding the testimony and adding more evidence to the Court Record), and object or present evidence (while saying "OBJECTION!") to point out a contradiction, lie, or mistake in the testimony, with evidence to present as proof that the testimony has holes in it.

During trials, a witness will take the stand and give testimonies (titled "Witness Testimony") on the situation the courtroom trial is about. Often, these testimonies have contradictions in them, small or miniscule, that you need to point out. Following a Witness Testimony is a Cross-Examination.

Sometimes, a witness may be the actual culprit of the crime your client is framed for. If you cross-examine this suspect witness enough and point out enough contradictions and lies, the suspect witness will "break down" and eventually tell the truth.

Your assistant, or partner, is someone who helps you out during investigations and trials. During investigations, you can talk to your partner and ask your partner for hints on what to do. Your partner travels alongside you and engages in any conversations you have with other people during investigations and often comments on things you examine and evidence you find.

During trials, your partner acts as your co-counsel. They can talk to you during the trial, participate in trial conversation, give you hints during cross-examinations, and more.