Are You Ready for Trial?
(Really?!?)
The idea for Trial Theater sprouted from something that bothered
me while I was watching an attorney's
opening statement in an attempted murder case several years ago. The facts were
thrilling, the characters engaging, and the stakes were incredibly
high.
But his opening statement was the most boring presentation I'd heard
in years.
I thought, "How could he possibly make
this case boring?" Was this his first trial? Was
he trying to lose? Did he fail Trial Advocacy in law school?
Nope, nope, and nope. He was an experienced trial attorney,
with dozens of cases under his belt. He definitely wanted to
win the case, and, in fact, had won a great percentage of his cases.
And no, he wasn't in the part of the class that made the top half
possible.
The problem was, he was doing exactly what he had been taught to do in law school.
With all due respect to the law
schools, they can't fully prepare you to try cases or speak to
juries. Law school changed the way you think. It changed
the way you speak. It even changed the way you look.
(C'mon, admit it. Someone who never met you before has asked,
"You're a lawyer, aren't you?") The law schools do a valuable
job of teaching you the law.
But trials are different from every
other aspect of the law.
Verdicts aren't decided by law
professors or legal scholars. They're decided by small
business owners, checkout clerks, engineers, teachers, retirees,
plumbers, and work-at-home moms and dads. (In fact,
given the opportunity, would you even want to pick a jury composed
entirely of lawyers, judges, law professors, and Supreme Court
justices?)
That's why you need to learn to speak
to normal people again.
You're
determined to improve your trial skills, aren't you? You want
that extra edge that will help you win your next trial. Trial
lawyers are a special breed. We have been given the
opportunity to tell our client's stories. We need to tell those stories
passionately, persuasively, powerfully. Here at
TRIALTHEATER, we're dedicated to helping you win more trials. In addition to
our free e-zine, Trial Tips
Newsletter, we have also created several
resources to
help you persuade jurors. We also offer personalized trial
skills
training and
consultation to help you, your firm, or your association improve
your courtroom presentation skills.
So... "Are You Ready for Trial?"
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Post Office Box 2493 Orlando, Florida 32802-2493 · Toll
free: (888) 428-6783 · Email: TrialTips@TrialTheater.com
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