Mastering courtroom presentations involves more than just knowing the law; it requires understanding how to engage your audience without overwhelming them. I've talked about the redundancy effect/ split attention effect many times, including earlier this month. See 5 Alternatives to Persuasion Killing Bullet Points From Our Litigation Consultants. I think this may be the most common trial presentation mistake I see from even the very best trial attorneys. Understanding the Split-Attention Effect in Courtroom Presentations The split-attention effect occurs when an individual's focus is divided between multiple sources of information, leading to cognitive overload and decreased comprehension. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in environments where the processing of information is critical, such as in educational settings, business meetings, and most notably, in courtrooms. This can be especially problematic in a courtroom as jurors and judges are tasked with understanding complex legal arguments and evidence, which often involve intricate details and nuanced interpretations. When attention is split between spoken words and litigation graphics, such as PowerPoint slides, charts, or physical evidence, the likelihood of misunderstanding or missing critical information increases significantly. This can result in jurors and judges forming incomplete or incorrect conclusions, which can ultimately affect the outcome of a trial.
Bullet points undermine persuasion. Scientific evidence supports this, and my colleagues and I have consistently emphasized this over the past 15 years in this blog through articles such as: 12 Reasons Bullet Points Are Bad (in Trial Graphics or Anywhere) The 12 Worst PowerPoint Mistakes Litigators Make Don't Use PowerPoint as a Crutch in Trial or Anywhere Why Reading Your Litigation PowerPoint Slides Hurts Jurors 5 Ways to Maximize Persuasion During Opening Statements - Part 4 12 Ways to SUCCESSFULLY Combine Oral and Visual Presentations Powerful PowerPoint Presentation Tips: Ditch the Bullet Points! Still Think Persuasion is About Talking While Showing Bullet Points? How Many Persuasion Errors Can You Spot in This Slide? 11 Lessons Trial Lawyers Can Learn From Jay Z's Lawyer Video Presentation But wait, Ken, you just used bullet points in the opening paragraph of this article!!! Yes, I did. Quite purposefully. I want you to imagine reading that same list while I'm reading it to you almost simultaneously, but not perfectly synched with your reading. Are you imagining trying to read faster than I was speaking? That's common—judges and jurors (or any audience) often try to outpace the speaker. You might have felt tempted to ignore what I'm saying and just focus on reading. Or, you might think, "I'm smart and can multitask by listening and reading simultaneously." Maybe so, but wouldn't it be better to choose either to read or to listen? This isn't about competing; it's about persuading effectively. The issue here concerns trial lawyers who utilize bullet points on PowerPoint slides. You're familiar with the scenario. They glance at their slide as you read it, and then they read the bullet point aloud to you. This isn't a one-time occurrence. They might repeat this process hundreds of times throughout a single trial.
Explore the most captivating and insightful litigation consulting articles that drew the interest of tens of thousands of readers in 2024. With nearly 1,000 articles on our site covering a wide range of litigation consulting topics, I find it beneficial to occasionally pause and review what our audience is engaging with. These are the top articles, as determined by your readership, in 2024. The Evolution of Litigation Consulting in 2024 The landscape of litigation consulting has undergone significant transformations in 2024. With advancements in technology, this year has seen pivotal changes that have reshaped the industry. Our readers have shown a keen interest in understanding how these developments impact litigation strategies and outcomes. Our articles have covered topics ranging from the integration of AI in legal practices to the increasing importance of storytelling as a persuasion tool. The insights provided by our expert contributors have been invaluable in navigating these changes, making these topics some of the most viewed of the year. The Top 24 Litigation Consulting Report Articles in 2024 21 Secrets From an Opening Statement Guru: Learn the 21 secrets of crafting a winning opening statement in litigation. Discover the importance of storytelling, simplifying your message, and practicing diligently for success. Trial Graphics and PowerPoint: Learn how PowerPoint can be a powerful tool for creating trial graphics in litigation consulting. Discover how it simplifies complex concepts, creates compelling visuals, and enhances persuasive arguments. Find out why PowerPoint is accessible and adaptable for collaboration. Avoid common mistakes and explore expert tips for using PowerPoint effectively in trial presentations. 9 Hidden Skills of Trial Technicians and Hotseaters You Never Knew About: Discover the hidden skills of trial technicians and hotseaters in this insightful post. Learn about their unique abilities beyond technical support in the courtroom.
On Monday, Jay-Z's lawyer, Alex Spiro, held a press conference to address allegations against the rapper to publicly dispute rape claims and clarify the situation. Although the statement's purpose was evident—protecting his client and trying to influence public perception—several visual presentation errors can offer essential insights for legal communications in and out of the courtroom. I am not personally acquainted with Mr. Shapiro, but his firm, Quinn Emanuel et al., has been a client. Overall, I believe he performed exceptionally well and commend his assertive defense. It essentially acknowledges that Jay-Z faces a more significant threat to his reputation than legal liability in this case. While Mr. Spiro's oral presentation is nearly flawless, his litigation graphics presentation is substandard . . . profoundly substandard. For a firm like Quinn to have used this is surprising. Having defended celebrities wrongly accused of sexual assault, I know there is a rush to get out the truth and to do so forcefully. Perhaps in that rush, commonsense modern rules of litigation graphics were brushed aside. We can learn from this. Below, I offer 11 lessons for your next trial/litigation graphics presentation, whether for trial or reputation defense.
This is by far the most important e-book we have ever launched, setting a new standard in the industry with its unparalleled depth and breadth. Spanning an impressive 559 pages, it encompasses nearly everything we know about the art of persuasion through trial graphics and litigation graphics. I am beyond excited to introduce this revolutionary book for 2024. The book is titled Winning With Trial Graphics and Litigation Graphics: A Trial Lawyer's Handbook, and I am thrilled to unveil it to trial attorneys and their support teams. This e-book is an updated edition of our highly acclaimed 2014 version, which has set the benchmark in the industry for the past decade. In this new release, we’ve enriched the content with over 100 fresh articles on trial graphics, litigation graphics, storytelling, and the science of persuasion, making it an invaluable asset for legal professionals. You can download this 559-page book without any obligations by clicking here.
PowerPoint does funny things to people. For some, it is an amazingly accessible creative space to deliver important messages powerfully and persuasively (see Wait, Why is Powerpoint Cool Now). For others, it is a place to advertise how little they know about persuasion science. Think of this article as a fun challenge reminiscent of the games found on cereal boxes from your childhood. Your task: spot the persuasion-killing mistakes on the slide above, then compare them to the ones I've highlighted below. I've already embedded numerous persuasion pitfalls in the text, making it easier for you to identify them. Let's see how many you can uncover and elevate your persuasion game. Hopefully, this slide doesn't resemble your Trial Graphics/Litigation Graphics. If it does, you should contact me or press the request conflicts check button in the corner. In any case, I hope this article helps you and helps elevate the art of persuasion.
I am delighted to announce the release of Persuadius's latest free litigation e-book, Trial Technicians, Hotseaters & Trial Technology 2024, designed for trial attorneys and their support staff. This e-book is a follow-up to the popular 2014 version that has been the industry standard for the past 10 years. We have added over 30 new articles on trial technicians, hotseaters, and trial technology, all included in this latest release. You can download this 153-page book without any obligations by clicking here. This book contains 60 articles carefully selected from Persuadius's extensive collection of posts related to litigation and technology. Each article is relevant to high-tech trials in some way, covering topics such as hiring a hot seater, establishing a good working relationship with them, and effectively utilizing trial technology. The book is filled with valuable tips that will benefit both novice litigators and experienced professionals.
I'm absolutely thrilled to announce the release of Persuadius's latest free litigation e-book, The Opening Statement Toolkit v2. Version 1 (2015) was our most popular ebook of all time, with many litigators telling me, "This is essential reading." You may now download this new book without strings attached by clicking here. In this 271-page book, you will find 80 articles curated from Persuadius's massive collection of posts related to litigation and persuasion. Each article relates to opening statements in some way. From organizing the opening to the use of storytelling techniques to persuade, the book contains an amazing array of tips that will prove valuable to the novice litigator and the veteran alike.
If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you may have let some amazing posts slip under your radar. With over 12 years of blog posts and an impressive 850 entries, it’s easy to miss a few hidden gems. That’s why we’ve compiled this curated list of captivating blog posts that deserve recognition.
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 at stake. Mock trials are a critical part of the Persuadius service offerings. If you want to discuss one, I invite you to email me (ken@persuadius.com) or call me (1-800-847-9330) or, ideally, fill out a client conflict check form by clicking the purple button in the upper right corner of this page. Only three people, including me, see those. 2. Conduct more than one mock trial. The ideal number is three, and that's precisely what I have observed the best trial lawyers do. It's not always affordable, but more than one mock is mandatory for cases with $25 million or more at stake. The only thing that varies is the investment in each mock trial. If $100 million or more is at stake, every mock should have every investment possible (i.e., a proper mock facility, a two-day or three-day mock, live witnesses, opening and closing statements, etc.). 3. Collaborate with litigation consultants who bring experience and insights to trial preparation. With a track record of handling hundreds of trials, we have witnessed exceptional and lackluster attorney performances. We aim to share valuable knowledge and advice, not lecture or boast about expertise. Drawing on the collective wisdom of countless cases, we strive to support you in crafting a solid and effective trial strategy. Litigation consultants can be exceptionally helpful when developing your opening statement. 4. Build a solid opening statement. In 30 years, I haven't seen anything to convince me that the opening statement is not the most essential part of the case. Some studies say that 80% of jurors make a decision about who will win after hearing opening statements. When done correctly, it should take months to develop an opening. It should be tested many times in whatever way your client can afford. We've written extensively about this. This topic is wonderfully covered in our opening statement toolkit ebook. See The Opening Statement Toolkit.
Discover why using bullet points in PowerPoint presentations can hinder your ability to persuade and learn powerful tips to enhance your presentations. The Problem with Bullet Points: How They Kill Persuasion Bullet points have long been a staple of PowerPoint presentations. However, their overuse can actually hurt your ability to persuade and engage your judge/jury. Bullet points are often used as a crutch, allowing presenters to simply read off the slide instead of creating a compelling narrative. This can lead to a lack of connection with the judge and jury and a diminished impact of your message. Additionally, bullet points can make your presentation feel cluttered and overwhelming, making it difficult for your judge & jury to focus on key points. We have written extensively about this in articles such as, Still Think Persuasion is About Talking While Showing Bullet Points? and 12 Reasons Bullet Points Are Bad (in Trial Graphics or Anywhere) and Why Reading Your Litigation PowerPoint Slides Hurts Jurors and The Redundancy Effect, PowerPoint and Legal Graphics. They are wonderful resources all by themselves. To overcome the problem with bullet points, consider alternative ways to present information. Instead of listing out your main points in bullet form, try using visuals, storytelling techniques, effective data visualization, and memorable quotes and anecdotes to drive your message. Above all else, never read your slide aloud
PROS: PowerPoint is a versatile tool that many lawyers use for creating trial graphics. It can be used to create visual aids that can help present arguments in a clear and concise way. While there are many tools available for creating trial graphics, PowerPoint is a popular choice due to its ease of use, flexibility, and accessibility. Using PowerPoint for trial graphics can help simplify complex concepts and make arguments more compelling. For instance, you can use PowerPoint to create timelines, charts, graphs, and other visuals that can help illustrate key points. This is particularly important in cases where multiple parties, complex facts, or technical details need to be presented to the jury.
Our blog has been thriving for nearly a decade, accumulating over a million visits during this remarkable period. As we approach the official 10-year blog anniversary next year, we also celebrate the impressive 28-year milestone of our entire company. To stay in tune with our readers' preferences, we meticulously monitor the traffic of each blog post, enabling us to identify the crème de la crème. Without further ado, here are the top 100 most engaging blog posts from the past ten extraordinary years. 5 Questions to Ask in Voir Dire The Top 14 Testimony Tips for Litigators and Expert Witnesses Ways to Identify the Jury Foreman: Insights on Leadership and Influence Lists of Analogies, Metaphors and Idioms for Lawyers 14 Tips for Delivering a Great Board Meeting Presentation 15 Tips for Great Customer Service from the Restaurant Industry
by Ken Lopez Founder/CEO A2L Consulting Over the past three decades I've heard hundreds of lawyers say, “I won't need many graphics because my case is not very visual.” Usually, that's followed up with “It's really a case about documents” or “It’s a dispute over who said what,” or “It’s just about what someone's actions were.” Fortunately, there’s a clear and straightforward answer to these objections: What drives the need for visuals in a case is not the underlying subject matter. It’s your audience's need to see things as well as hear them. In effect, every case is a visual case today. So instead of wondering whether your case lends itself to litigation graphics, you should probably be asking yourself whether you are substituting your judgment about the need for visuals for your audience's core psychological needs. Remember, lawyers tend not to be visual learners themselves, while many or most jurors will be in that category. One trial lawyer said this particularly well in this short video about why litigation graphics are important.
Share: