ORAL ADVOCACY PREPARATION

All lawyers are trained to be legal experts. But if they want to be successful litigators, they better be performers as well. They have to take command of the courtroom and communicate with a jury the way actors communicate with an audience. They must be relaxed, succinct, vivid and persuasive.

Unfortunately, that doesn't come naturally for every lawyer. For instance, a lawyer may be working on a highly technical case which she needs to make accessible to a jury. She has to develop a "story" out of dull details and give shape, clarity and life to her witnesses and her opening and closing statements.

Another attorney may be defending a favorable verdict before an appellate panel and needs to make the argument as fresh, sharp and persuasive as possible.

A lawyer handling a large, complex case is often simply overwhelmed and needs outside assistance to prepare witnesses and shape the trial presentation. ON TRIAL can enhance an attorney’s performance in the courtroom.

We use basic acting techniques to help them:

• relax and feel comfortable enough to take a few risks;
• handle the surprises intrinsic to the courtroom;
• recognize weak and undesirable body language, and change it;
• identify their own natural style and enhance its impact;
• pull the facts together into a cogent whole and present a complete story;
• grab a jury’s interest by using imaginative storytelling techniques;
• lead a jury by emotion to arrive at the desired verdict.

Oral advocacy services include:

• opening statement, closing argument, and oral advocacy coaching;
• video review of court appearances or mock trials;
• case strategy and thematic development;
• visual/demonstrative evidence review;
• case assessment; and
• settlement packages.