Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Explain "Why" to Make Your Case Matter to the Jurors



In a courtroom, it isn't necessarily the attorney with the best facts who wins, but the attorney who best explains the relevance of those facts both to the case and to the jurors.

Certainly, you need solid evidence, but here we’re talking about what do you need to get the edge? What, given the usual state of affairs by the time a case gets to court where both sides believe their evidence is strong enough to prevail, can you do to give you the advantage over your opponent?

Explain why. Why does your interpretation of the facts make sense? Why should the jurors care that their verdict favor your client? Why should this matter to the jurors? How does it impact their lives (work, family, children, safety, etc.), preferably in an immediate and direct way?

Explain through your experts, your lay witnesses, and most importantly, your closing argument, and of course your opening to the degree allowed.

We invest in the personal, in that which strikes home. That's why stories have such impact, they touch the personal. So too with explanations - make your case matter, not just to your client, but to the jurors.