Storytelling. A jury will vote with their heart, then find a legal hook upon which to hang their decision. The way to a jurys heart is through a compelling, believable story. In this session, we will look at the elements of good storytelling, analyze different approaches, and help you discover your own style. Come prepared to brainstorm, challenge, take risks, and to share a case, either hypothetical or real.
Body Language. This session will focus primarily on the physical aspects of acting and performing. We will address how to get past nervousness, how to use your body language to your advantage, and how to train your voice for the best delivery. Wear comfy clothes and be ready to move!
Credibility. Your case relies on credibility. They jury has to believe in you in order to believe in what you are saying. We will explore techniques used by actors to convince an audience. We will look at the various points in the trial when you have opportunity to prove or destroy your credibility and how to optimize those opportunities.
Witnesses. Preparing and questioning witnesses can be the make or break point in your trial. Learn how to impart the same techniques to your witnesses that you use to prove credibility. In addition, learn how to continue your strong techniques through the questioning process. How do you phrase a question? Are you a good listener? In this session, we will move from monologue to dialogue as we explore the performance aspects of witness questioning and preparation.
Persuasion. What are the elements of persuasion? An actor must make an audience forget he is acting so they will believe the story. A lawyer must make the jury forget that they are being persuaded, so they are free to make their own conclusions. In this seminar we will explore the power of persuasion and how you free the jury to choose, in your favor, of course.
Rehearsal Techniques. Information about acting techniques for lawyers has been out for many years. But how many times have you actually practiced and rehearsed any of the new techniques you've seen. It is too late and too dangerous to wait until you are in front of a jury, opposing counsel, or a judge to give it a whirl and nothing is worse than looking like you are acting. That is why rehearsal is important. In this session, we act as director for the rehearsal process, but also leave you with ways you can rehearse alone.
