Themes & Labels

• help jury remember KEY POINTS
• should EMOTIONALLY STRONG
• incorporate FAIRNESS
• UNIVERSAL TRUTHS

Showcase (simple & quick)

• Dramatize/Humanize - story telling
• Techniques, focus on people, not events
• Facts - be confident and detailed 

Theory of Case

(Logical persuasive story)

R.A.A.R

Logical persuasive story on what happened, consistent with CREDIBLE EVIDENCE

Beforehand

• Review
• Analyze Proof
• Analyze Contradiction
• Research issues

Time & Organization

B.O.P.R

(work backwards)

4-8 wks befor trial:

• Brainstorm
• Organize
• Prepare
• Refine

Preparing Physcologically

P.D.S.E.U.F

1. Prepare jury point of view
2. Develop theoryof case
3. Select THEMES/LABELS
4. Emphasize people
5. Focus on KEY FACTS

Outside Notebook

J.N.E.W.T

• Jury Instruction
• Note Pads
• Exhibits
• Witness Folders
• Transcripts

Preparation

1. Litigation

2. Trial Notebook

1. Litigation files include:

• court files 
• attorney's records
• evidence

1. Trial Notebook (used during trial)

• Facts / Pleadings / Discoveries
• Motions / Charts / Jury

**Opeing / Plaintiff / Defendant / Closing / Instruction / Law

Anticipating and covering points of view

• Cross Examination...not always expected
• More Effective

**MUST send positive → not apologetic

• Back tracking information to make a specific point

Cross Examination (PAS)

3. Specific Techniques

Q.B.D.I.A.D

• Qualifications in training
• Bias and interest = rid of bias witnesses
• Assumptions → suspect opinions
• Inconsistent statements - holes in testimony
• Disagreeing w/experts = who's right v. who's wrong

Cross Examination (PAS)

1. Preparation

Use, Read, Obtain, Research

• Use expert to help understand then attack!
• Read literature
• Obtain copies of everything
• Experts history
• Experts weakness

Cross Examination (PAS)

2. Approach

Favorable testimony → Destructive Cross

Start _____ End _____

Goal: Elicit favorable testimony in part w/a destructive cross examination

Start Strong → End Strong

Keep It Simple

• Motion unadmitted evidence
• Mistrusting evidence
• Personal opinions
• Improperly arguing law
• Improperly arguing rebuttal
• Violating the Golden Rule

Closing Argument

Chronilogical + physical culmination of jury trial, select appropriate instructions, tailor them towards your case

First Minute

• Create a theme that's favorable
• enthusiasm with lasting impression

Argue!

• Takes every aspect of case, molds it together 
• LOGIC + EMOTION

Efficiency

• Appeal key ideas repeat them in 15-20 min
• do not overlay jury 

The Design

3. burden of Proof

Discussion of Law

Jury Instructions (applicable law)

Burden of Proof

Damages

The Design

2. State & Establish

State what the law is

• Establish your theme, grounded in evidence, law, justice & ethics
• Testimony - Significant testimony
• Exhibits - Clear up meaning
• Question other sides use of facts: inconsistent, incoherent, impossible

NOT RIGHT WITH LAW

The Design

1. Start Strong / Story

Start Strong

• Reemphasize your story
• Focus on a theme
• Core of the case

• Introduction
• Issues
• Proof
• Liability
• Damages
• Instructions
• Refute Opposing Side
• CONCLUDE

Strategic Closing

Use. Argue. Force + Close

Use

1. Themes and labels 4. Exhibits / Visual Aids 5. Instructions (law) 6. Rhetorical Questions 7. Analogies 11. Strong Delivery

Argue

2. Theory of case 3. Facts 8. Strengths 9. Opponents weakness 10. Focus on weakness

Reapeat, Demonstrate, Argue, Use

The Design

4. Appropriate Conclusion

Talk at leve of juror

handle sympathy & empathy

Request Relief

Leave them with ONE choice

Leave them with something

Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) 702

Provides → Assists → Explains → Determines → Helps

Provides Expert Testimony

will assist facts

Further explain evidence

Determine fact of issue

Help jury understand facts

Jury + Experts

C.P.T.

1. Concerns

• intimidating, logical clear
• non technical language

2. Persuasive Experts

• education and training 
• trustworthy and likeable

3. Teacher (expert)

• understand and like the subject
• remember information 

Law of Experts

702 - An expert must pass certain evidentiary test before properly admissable "sequential questions"

1. Appropriate subject - assist facts of the case
2. Qualified Expert - experience / training
3. Reliable Expert - testable theory, acceptable
4. Proper test
5. Expert Sources
6. Disclosed Sources
7. Admissable Sources
8. Proper Testimony - opinion v. scientific
9. Expert testify issues