Deliver a Persuasive Opening Statement

 

Opening statement is a trial lawyer’s best time to persuade the jury. It is a best opportunity for three reasons.

First, you can provide the jurors with the story of your case in your own words. Opening statement will aid jurors in organizing and understanding the evidence as it is presented during trial, creating a sketch on the jurors’ mental canvas.  Brushstroke by brushstroke, the sketch gains color, and the jury can visualize the picture you want them to see. 

Jurors want a story. Our history is a history of storytelling. We pass on our culture with storytelling. Our stories are told online, in newspapers, in plays, in movies. It’s all storytelling. If you don’t provide a story, opposing counsel’s case narrative may control the jurors’ perception of the case. Alternatively, if opposing counsel does not supply a convincing case narrative, the jurors are likely to concoct their own, and this story may not be in your favor. 

Second, opening statement provides a first impression on the jury. For the first time, jurors hear your full message.  According to the rule of primacy, an audience is likely to remember what they hear first.

Third, because you deliver the message, you control how it is crafted and presented.  During the rest of the trial until closing argument, the evidence will necessarily be presented in fragments, and it will often be introduced out of chronological order.  But, throughout your opening, your message should be clear and convincing.  During the rest of the trial until closing argument, however, your messengers will be witnesses.  Although you have some control over how witnesses impart information, you do not have complete control.

Inside this accessible and comprehensive handbook, you’ll learn:

• How to structure a persuasive opening statement 

• Compelling storytelling techniques for a “golden opportunity” opening statement

• Attention-grabbing beginnings for an opening statement 

• How to deal with case weaknesses in an opening statement

• Strong concluding remarks for an opening statement 

• Pitfalls to avoid

• How to be a great persuader utilizing Aristotelian arguments and speech devices

• How to bring your opening statement alive with visual aids

• 8 techniques for being a great persuader—having a winning delivery

• Trial attorney role models for you to consider emulating

• Triumphing over nervousness.

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