Rapport, or lack of it, between a first-chair attorney, who is in charge of a trial presentation, and his or her trial tech can make or break a case. When this rapport exists, the result is akin to a well-choreographed ballet, a perfectly orchestrated symphony performance, or a beautifully planned newscast. Everything happens on time and on cue. There are no pregnant pauses, and visuals feel as if they support what is being said by the lawyer, rather than being used as a reminder to tell the lawyer what to say.

When this relationship is not perfect, the trial presentation can feel like watching a streaming online movie that is constantly pausing to be buffered. When a presentation has not been sufficiently practiced between a first-chair attorney and a trial tech, you will see missed timing, flustered attorneys and a general unease that does not have to be there.

Trial techs, of course, are the people whose job is to ensure that content flows in a smooth, pre-scripted fashion, making the trial lawyer look like a polished presenter. The trial tech controls the electronic presentation in court, brings in the evidence at just the right time, and plays audio and video of depositions in a way that helps the judge and jury appreciate and understand the case.

A good trial tech, as I have said before, frees the lawyers and the litigation consultants to marshal the witnesses and the evidence to tell a compelling story. A great trial tech produces that seamless result.

Some litigation graphics consultants can have only a limited interaction with the first-chair lawyer, and the trial can still be a success. That cannot be true of the relationship between the top lawyer and the trial tech. That must be outstanding. How can you make sure it becomes outstanding and stays that way?

As with many things in life, the answer is practice. There is no substitute for thoughtful repetition subject to peer review. An opening statement, a closing, a direct examination or a cross-examination all require subtle interchange between a first-chair lawyer and a trial tech, and these efforts must be practiced. There’s no fast-forward button for this.

In the past, I have argued for a 30-to-1 ratio of practice time to actual trial time. Although I have received some pushback on this, I have not yet seen arguments convincing enough for me to change my views as a general matter. You might get away with less, but this is a business that does not look favorably on second chances. I prefer to give myself a wide margin of error.

While the 30-to-1 ratio is still the best one in my view, the trial tech doesn’t have to be in the room for all those hours of practice. It’s possible to achieve excellent results working with your trial tech with a 5-to-1 prep ratio, but I think that 10 to 1 is the best practice for time spent practicing with your trial tech/hot-seater.

Other articles related trial technicians, hot seaters, trial technology and effective trial presentation:

• What Does Using a Trial Technician or Hot-Seater Cost?
• Free E-Book Download: How to Find and Engage the Best Trial Technician
• Why Trial Tech ≠ Litigation Graphics
• Will using a trial technician make me look too slick and high-tech?
• Practice, Say Jury Consultants, is Why Movie Lawyers Perform So Well
• A video of George Zimmerman's lawyers taking a do-it-yourself approach
• 12 ways to avoid a Superbowl-style tech failure
• See a video of a trial technician in action
• 12 Tips to Hire the Right Trial Technician for Your Trial
• 5 Trial Director Tips for great presentations
• 6 ways to use video depositions
• FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD: How To Create Persuasive Visual Presentations
• Practice, Say Jury Consultants, is Why Movie Lawyers Perform So Well
• Litigator & Litigation Consultant Value Added: A "Simple" Final Product
• Litigation Consultant: Embrace a Two-Track Strategy & Win the War
• 3 Ways to Force Yourself to Practice Your Trial Presentation
• Practice is a Crucial Piece of the Storytelling Puzzle
• FREE E-BOOK: Making Great Speeches and Connecting with Your Audience
• Accepting Litigation Consulting is the New Hurdle for Litigators
• 16 Trial Presentation Tips You Can Learn from Hollywood
• The Very Best Use of Coaches in Trial Preparation
• FREE WEBINAR: Using PowerPoint Litigation Graphics
• Sample One-Year Trial Prep Calendar for High Stakes Cases