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Opening Statement Tips.

Over the years, I have been both entertained and yawned to death by various opening statements. I have always thought the opening really sets the tempo for the rest of the case. Far too often, they are exercises in complete boredom or just thirty minutes of chaos. There is an overused adage about first impressions that rings true when facing twelve decision makers. Below, I have compiled some tips that I believe are helpful for both the veteran litigator and the greenhorn.
 


Opening Tips

  • Keep the cue cards and notes to a minimum. If you have to glance at your notes occasionally to make sure nothing important is glossed over, that is fine. However, holding your notes and reading from them makes you look like a newbie and unprepared.
  • Never make evidence promises to the jury during your opening that you cannot deliver on. Don’t think they will remember? Is that really a chance you are willing to take on your client’s behalf? They will remember, and the credibility of your case will be tainted in the deliberation room. Additionally, you may have opened a door that opposing counsel can drive a truck through in their closing.
  • Don’t fumble with exhibits. If you have planned to show the jury something, then make sure you are prepared. Digging through a banker’s box, scouring digital images, or trying to find some elusive page in a huge text all look bad. Have it ready or don’t use it.
  • Avoid PowerPoint as an opening tool. Anyone who says otherwise is giving you advice from ten years ago. OK, so now your notes are on a big screen and you are reading them. This is not how to engage the jury with technology. Use trial presentation software and stay dynamic rather than static. Get in and get out, keeping the focus on the jury.
  • Don’t dress in outlandish garb with enough jewelry to open a store right in the courtroom. You may think those 10 lb. gold cuff links look good with all ten Liberace rings, but the jury may have other perceptions. Keep it simple and professional. You want the jury concentrating on the theme of your case and not your attire.
  • Shy away from courtroom drama phrases like “the evidence will show” because they are simply overused and boring. Stick to your theme and just present the facts of the case. Be engaging and keep the jury interested with your presentation.
  • Think visually and use analogies whenever appropriate. Give the jurors anchor points for their memory and not just verbose blobs of fact. You may think you sound smart, but you are putting them to sleep.
  • Don’t go over the top when describing injuries to the jurors. This is almost guaranteed to assault the senses and runs the risk of anger, disgust, and other unsavory emotions. None of which you want directed at you or fed into an ambulance chaser moniker. Get in and get out, and don’t desensitize your jury. Let the experts deliver the injury knockout punches.
  • Keep it short and crisp. Anything else potentially will have your jurors wondering when the madness will end. Remember, the mind can only absorb as much as the seat can endure.
  • Look at the jurors, each of them. They will not pay attention if you are speaking to the wall, ceiling, your shoes, or a pile of notes.

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