Exhibits can be effectively used on direct and cross-examination to not only clarify your case narrative but also significantly influence the jury’s understanding and retention of crucial information. Here’s a detailed guide to planning and effectively using exhibits during trial.Objectives of Using ExhibitsThe primary goal of introducing exhibits, including demonstrative evidence like
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New Evidence in Practice Book Launched

Delighted that Aspen Publishing has just launched the second edition of our evidence book. An essential go-to reference for law students, paralegals, and trial lawyers, Evidence in Practice: Skills and Strategies for Pretrial and Trial, with Practice Exercises, Second Edition is a concise how-to manual for all things evidence. Because traditional law school evidence courses…
Mastering Control: Techniques for Cross-Examining Witnesses

During cross-examination, controlling a witness is crucial, especially when they employ evasive tactics. Here are six effective techniques to manage this situation, each increasing in confrontational tone, tailored to the witness’s level of evasiveness.Establishing Agreement: Start by encouraging the witness to answer simply with “yes” or “no.” For example: “Dr. Best, can we agree…
Cross-Examination: Impeaching with Prior Inconsistent Statements
F. Lee Bailey cross-examining Mark Fuhrman in the O.J. Simpson caseThis article delves into the intricacies of Federal Rule 613 or its state rule counterpart, which governs the use of prior inconsistent statements during cross-examination, and provides techniques for effectively impeaching a witness with a prior inconsistent statement. Additionally, it offers two notable cases…
LAWYER JOKE BOOK: THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT:

‘Tis the season to be jolly. ‘Tis the season to recite lawyer jokes. Seems we bump into lawyer jokes everywhere this holiday season. Lawyer jokes are ubiquitous right now. Because you might enjoy them, I’m passing along a couple humor books with places you can find them. They make outstanding gifts or maybe you just…
EXTRACTING THE TRUTH ON CROSS-EXAMINATION – Part 1

David Boies and Theodore OlsonBOOK: Redeeming the Dream: Proposition 8 and the Struggle for Marriage EqualityIn the book Redeeming the Dream: Proposition 8 and the Struggle for Marriage Equality, the authors David Boies and Theodore Olson recount their battle as trial lawyers to bring marriage equality to gay and lesbians. It…
CHATGPT FOR CROSS-EXAMINATION by Keeley Blanchard
Here’s something new – preparing a compelling cross with ChatGPT. Recently, I came across LawStory – a newsletter by Keeley Blanchard, Trial Consultant. Here is her summary of what her training session will feature:”LAWYERS:”Learn how to create a creative and compelling cross examination using ChatGPT. The workshop will include:• step-by-step instructions on how to…
Impeachment with Visuals
At Seattle University Law School I teach an online course entitled “Visual Litigation and Today’s Technology”. Cross-examination visuals are featured because they can be extremely powerful weapons for cross-examination. They can be used to gain concessions either supporting your case theory or undermining the other side’s case theory. Visuals can also be very effective for…
Cross-Examination Checklist

A checklist can be a survival guide. Checklists are critical to pretrial and trial work. To illustrate the importance of checklists, Dr. Atul Gawande tells the true story of an October 30, 1935 airplane flight competition that the U.S. Army Air Corps held at Wright Air Field in Dayton Ohio to determine which military-long range…
FREE GUIDE TO BEING A GREAT COMMUNICATOR IN TRIAL
Get your free GUIDE to being A GREAT COMMUNICATOR IN TRIALOratory has been defined as “the art of making formal speeches which strongly affect people’s feelings and beliefs”Learn the THREE CHARACTERISTICS of a GREAT COMMUNICATOR IN TRIAL in this ADVOCACY NEWS & VIEWS Newsletter.CLICK HERE GET YOUR FREE GUIDE