In an opening statement, which item is the exception and should not be included?

• A. stating the legal issues involved in the case
• B. explaining the actual law and how it should be applied in the case
• C. identifying the parties and explaining how they fit into the overall picture
• D. stating the desired outcome of the case

Answer: (B)

In opening statements, the goal is to present the story of the case: what happened, who is involved, what issues are to be decided, and what you intend to prove and seek as a remedy. You outline the dispute and walk the judge through the facts you will establish, not argue how the law should be applied. Explaining the actual law and how it should be applied is legal argument that belongs after the evidence is heard, not in the opening.

So the item that should not be included is the explanation of the actual law and how it should be applied. The other elements—stating the issues, identifying the parties and their roles, and stating the desired outcome—fit the purpose of an opening statement by framing the case and guiding the tribunal through what to expect.