Are You Looking Jurors Squarely in the Eyes?
The fewer obstructions between you and your jurors, the more persuasive you will be. Yet many trial lawyers purposely place an obstacle between themselves and their jurors. That obstacle? Their notes. Here’s the slippery slope your notes create: The more notes you bring with you to the lectern, the more you will depend upon them. The more you depend on your notes, the less eye contact you will have with your jurors. The less eye contact you have with the jurors, the less...
Read MoreMonkeys in Business Suits
“You’re not even listening to me!” It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that phrase. I’m sure it won’t be the last time I hear that phrase, either. And candidly, no, I wasn’t listening to her. But there’s a pretty good reason why I wasn’t listening… I wasn’t listening to her because of the monkeys. Let me explain. Behind her head and directly in my line of sight was a big screen TV showing an ad for a job search website. ...
Read MoreHow to Respond to Difficult Questions
Have you ever found yourself “on the spot,” forced to respond to difficult questions? Regardless of whether the questions came from clients inquiring about their cases, from a senior partner asking about a brief you wrote, or from a judge cross-examining you during a motion hearing, it’s always a frustrating experience when you’re asked difficult questions that you haven’t anticipated and aren’t fully prepared to answer. It’s even worse when you know that you know the correct answer, but for...
Read MoreResources for Trial Lawyers
