You never really know until the end

Your attorney will present your case to a Judge (trial) if it cannot be settled outside of court. During the presentation, only the Judge and other attorney can really tell how much preparation your attorney has put into your case and whether he or she is doing a good job, as only the attorneys and judges know what to look for.

It is unlikely that you, (the client) know what to look for to determine if you attorney is presenting a good trial for you. You may want to hear certain questions asked or voices raised, but that does not mean your attorney has necessarily prepared for your case or is doing a good job. It may help to try to remove yourself from the courtroom (in your mind) and look in from a corner and just observe. You may develop a different prespective in that moment.

I have actually represented attorneys during their trials. This is difficult because practicing attorneys definitely know what type of job I am doing or not doing.

If your case is actually going to a trial, go watch some other trials so you will be able to compare and contrast the work of your attorney, so you have some awareness and do not present yourself as a "deer in the headlights." The caveat is that attorneys make very bad clients due to their general psychological makeup—rules apply to other people but not me.