Who would have thought a court room in the Rolls Building would be standing room only? The excitement that comes with the start of a very long trial saw prominent firms placing their logos or names printed or written on A4 paper on empty seats to save for colleagues.

Even Beyoncé would have been pleased with this demand for seats. Even at Prince Harry’s hearing the other week the court managed to find seats for all attendees - albeit with the help of an overspill court. 

Obiter has learned three things from this seat-saving, once believed to have been reserved for Spanish hotel poolsides.

First, get there earlier than you think you need to. Secondly, if you have a friend in court, have them save you a seat (paper optional but preferred). Thirdly, there is power to a sheet of paper with a top firm’s logo. Put it on a chair and that reservation is respected wholeheartedly. It’s the type of natural phenomenon that surrounds the stereotypical English queue. A paper to reserve a chair in court also allows you to feel a little important too, which is always nice.

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