The reserved opening statement is a strategy that, in all my years helping in the courtroom, I have never seen applied. In theory, a defendant typically has the right to wait until the plaintiff or the state has put on its...more
Maybe it is because monitors are a lot less expensive than they used to be, but I’m seeing more and more of them cropping up, often in the same places. Conference rooms or spaces for larger presentations that used to have a...more
Right off the top, I want to make clear that none of the tips involve starting off your ending with, “In conclusion….” I have always disliked that phrase, and put it in a category — along with phrases like “As I said before…”...more
I’ve got to say it: I think I have the best readers in the whole litigation-blogging space. You’re thoughtful, committed, and willing to reach out to me with feedback and ideas for new posts. Honestly, I don’t think I could...more
This is the general sentiment I sometimes hear when one side in an opening statement is talking about the other side’s experts...more
For many defense attorneys, there is a routine to the way that they’ll ask jurors to be fair at the start of their opening statement: There are two sides, you haven’t heard the whole story, please keep an open mind. It almost...more
In legal settings, the emphasis is often on the positive act of giving arguments and evidence for a given outcome: Share the proof and the reasons to believe, and let those appeals work their magic on your audience. But there...more
We know that movie viewers love a plot twist. A surprising turn of events can make a movie memorable, and in films like “The Usual Suspects,” or “The Sixth Sense,” your understanding and perspective on a story can suddenly...more
We have all used them. It might be a repeated word or phrase like, “I would say,” “it seems to me that,” or “like.” It might be a repeated sound like “uh,” “um,” “ah,” or “er.” Not all of the speech is content; some of it is...more
All the way back to my days as a public speaking professor and debate coach, I stressed the practical importance of a transition. The goal, I emphasized, is not just the formal nicety of appearing organized, but is rather to...more
In the current wave of this pandemic year, as many trials and in-person jury research projects are on hold, the social science research has continued. I’m thankful for that, and for this post, I want to appreciate a new study...more
Trial lawyers work in words: language that is precise, economical, and influential. Those words are the water that litigators swim in, and for that reason, the absence of words can be a little uncomfortable. That can be an...more
10/29/2020
/ Closing Arguments ,
Cross Examination ,
Defense Strategies ,
Eyewitness Testimony ,
Juror ,
Jury Trial ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Opening Statements ,
Trial Practice Guidance ,
Trial Preparation ,
Voir Dire
The state of New York is one of the biggest epicenters for the coronavirus illness in the United States. What has become a ritual within many states, and at the White House level as well, is the “Daily Briefing.” All of the...more
The habit of sort of just filling in your speech with expressions of uncertainty, when you’re not really that uncertain, is probably a bad habit. I mean, I am fairly sure that these hedges cut down on your perceived...more
1/9/2020
/ Best Practices ,
Closing Arguments ,
Credibility ,
Cross Examination ,
Defense Strategies ,
Eyewitness Testimony ,
Jury Trial ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Opening Statements ,
Trial Practice Guidance ,
Trial Preparation ,
Young Lawyers
You’ve probably seen the claim, but is it really true that our attention spans are becoming shorter than that of a goldfish? Last year, the presentation software company called Prezi released its 2018 State of Attention...more
I remember once sitting in court early into the defense opening statement, and the attorney was busy thanking the jurors, again. Even though they had already heard the spiel from the other side, and from this attorney’s...more
There’s a cartoon that shows a the philosopher, Plato, sitting on the grass of Athens with a modern-day politician (variously, it is Karl Rove or Donald Trump), with the latter character saying to Plato, “But surely you agree...more
The law allows counsel on the other side to deliver their opening statement first, so they get the early opportunity to tell you their story. But, there are two sides to every story. And, despite all you have heard, I...more
When you are working on boiling down your message, there will often be that indefinable “something” that makes you recognize when you have the right language. A good trial theme, for example, doesn’t just summarize the...more
Sitting in a courtroom during a recent trial, I had the opportunity to hear opening statements from both the Plaintiff and the Defendant. Both sides devoted a portion of their time during these openings to stress the...more
In the days leading up to trial, you wrestle with the task of creating an opening statement in a complex case. Of course, you remember the core advice from your very first trial advocacy class, but the sheer complexity at...more
Next time you’re in a public place, look around at all the people and what they’re doing. Looking at their phones? Yes! Nearly all of them. Now, some might be working. Some could be keeping up on the news or reading great...more
First, a pet peeve I just have to get off my chest: It is not called a “podium,” it is called a “lectern.” A podium is a platform that you stand on in order to be seen by an audience. And if you don’t believe me (because you...more
Lawyers tend to think of opening statement as the time for stories. But I think you’re telling a story in closing argument as well: not the same story, but a different one. And I don’t mean you should change the facts or...more
Americans finally got to see the redacted report from Independent Counsel Robert Mueller last week. The report on Trump campaign issues relating to Russian election interference raised questions in a great variety of...more