29 Leap Year Tips for Success at Trial: From Mock Trial to Closing Statement
I often talk about what not to do, but sometimes, I must remember to mention what you should do to achieve success at trial. In honor of leap year 2024, I have written this article offering 29 tips for successful trial preparation and execution. You can use this list as a checklist to compare yourself to your peers. I did not develop these ideas alone. Instead, they come from my experience working with the best of you over the past 30 years. 1. Conduct a mock trial. The very best litigators always conduct a mock trial when at least $10 million is
Improve Voir Dire: A Trump-Jury Example Script
By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm: In just over a month, barring any unforeseen delays, New York prosecutors and attorneys for criminal defendant Donald J. Trump will be picking a jury in what’s become known as the “hush money” case. The March 25th trial focuses on the payments the defendant made to former porn star Stormy Daniels […]
5 PowerPoint Blunders: The Worst Litigators' Mistakes
Discover the top blunders that litigators make in their trial presentations and learn how to avoid them for a successful outcome. 1. Overloading slides with text and information One common mistake that litigators make in presentations is overloading slides with too much text and information. This can overwhelm the judge and jury and make it difficult for them to focus on key points. It's important to keep slides concise and use visuals to support the content. Additionally, overcrowded slides can detract from the overall visual appeal of the presentation. See 12 Ways to Eliminate "But I Need Everything On That
How do jurors apply the presumption of innocence? | Online Jury Research Update
Jurors who fail to reserve judgment against a defendant until after they hear the evidence are neither fair nor impartial. A problem for jurors is that the legal presumption of innocence can be at odds with their beliefs, pre-evidence, about the factual innocence of any defendant put on trial. Jurors recognize that criminal defendants are on trial because police officers, prosecutors, and preliminary hearing judges or grand jurors believe them to be guilty. Jurors also gain information in voir dire that can bias them with respect to the factual innocence of a criminal defendant. A key question is whether the
The Best Ways to Pause PowerPoint to Enhance Connection with Judges and Juries
I have the privilege of working with some of the most skilled trial lawyers in the country. They are an impressive group, possessing extensive knowledge of the law, unwavering work ethic, and expertise in the courtroom. In addition, they have an intangible charisma that allows them to command a room the moment they enter. Great trial lawyers can establish a magnetic rapport with judges and jurors that is awe-inspiring and hard to explain. As a trial consultant, we should observe this connection and let it propel us to victory. Because of this natural charisma, many top trial lawyers worry that
Be Visual: Develop Your Demonstrative Case as You Build your Substantive Case
So your trial is coming up soon, and it looks like it will definitely happen. So now is the time to get a graphic designer to start developing some of your themes and arguments into clear and persuasive graphics, right? Wrong! The time to have started that is long past. If you develop graphics at […]