Getting ready for trial involves a lot of work.
American television and movies have romanticized the trial. When we think of a trial we often think of Tom Cruise demanding the truth when in reality, it’s often more like My Cousin Vinny. In A Few Good Men, Tom Cruise played a good looking lawyer with an equally good looking co-counsel and their nerdy sidekick. In My Cousin Vinny, Joe Pesci was a sort of wise guy that was unprepared and unskilled.
Trials require preparation, procedure, and the right presentation.
Recently, I joined the Trial Lawyer’s College for my first regional seminar. Several years ago, I attended the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Trial College, and mock trial was a staple of my law school education. But the TLC method changed the game for me because it breathed life into my trial preparation and presentation.
Lawyers are often perceived to be stuck in a reality that only they can relate to. Our profession is demanding and unique in the sense that it requires us to think differently from everyone else. We tend to get caught up in deductive reasoning, legal elements, and theory. All that is great for Bar Association luncheons and academic panels. But the clients that we serve are real people with real problems. And the juries that decide the future of the accused criminal defendant or the livelihood of the wrongfully terminated are also real people. The procedures of trial can be downright boring. And if they are boring for the professionals, you can bet that the jury is dying a little inside too. That’s where the preparation and presentation come in.
Good trial work requires good preparation so that the presentation is delivered in a way that is relatable. Preparation requires conducting as much investigation and discovery as the case requires and then articulating the story that’s behind the all the information. That’s right . . . your case is more than just about the procedure, the statutes, and the “law.” Your case is about your story. And learning to tell your story is partially what the TLC method is all about.
But I was surprised by the most important thing that the Trial Lawyer’s College left me with. While case preparation and presentation are important, the preparation that is most important is the preparation within. It starts with me. How I personally engage with the jury is a reflection on how well I tell your story. Self discovery is hard work; probably harder than taking a case to trial. I’m excited to see how my new tools affect the outcome of my trials. And that’s what makes our lawyers different. Our constant quest to be better sets us apart.
If you want a lawyer who is willing to tell your story at trial, give us a call and set up a consultation. Whether you have pending criminal charges, you are fighting for custody of your children, or your boss just fired you for doing the right thing, we are here to make sure that your story is heard.
When you don’t know who to call, we answer.
