Electronically Producing the Powerful Trial

Kevin Thompson artfully demonstrates how you can (and should) use your computer as a powerful tool to manage evidence and to present it persuasively to opposing counsel, a judge or a jury. Thompson calls upon years of successful litigation experience to provide you with proven techniques, systems, checklists and recommendations you can begin using immediately to:

• establish visual dominance in opening
• teach judges and jurors difficult concepts
• develop memorable demonstratives
• protect your work product
• avoid mistrial

You will gain insights into new techniques for distributing tasks among your support staff in a way that's easy for you to manage with confidence. Thompson weaves the economics of law and technology into practical demonstrations, giving you a deeper understanding of budgeting for technology.

Whether your evidence is a document, a photo, a video or computer file, Thompson shows how to recall it instantly and present it in a way that will grab the judge and/or jury and move them to remember your point.

The computer on your desk — or in your briefcase — contains enormous power to persuade. You already have the tool. Now put it to more effective and persuasive use.

Highlights:

• Organize transcripts, document evidence, demonstrative evidence and witness information; everything you need at trial instantly recalled.
• Simple systems for punctuating testimony so that the judge or jury understands immediately; comprehends completely; and remembers through deliberation.
• Learn to fully utilize the advantages of modern courtrooms.
• Procedures for security and ethical safeguards in the digital world.

Program Outline & Schedule (6 hours)

[Part I: 90 minutes]

Multimedia Tactics in the Courtroom

• Technology’s relentless advance — economics of computing
• Talking with pictures (the art of digital argument)
• Outfitting counsel table
• Who to look for in the phone book to get things done

Judges, Juries & Clients — Perceptions of Computers in the Courtroom

• 21st century litigation — technology's relentless advance 
• State of the art courtrooms

[15 minute break]

[Part II: 90 minutes]

Ethics of Information Management

• Passing costs to clients
• Protecting Work Product
• Computer Security

[Lunch]

[Part III: 90 minutes]

Lawyer as Producer — Interactive Demonstratives & Animations

• Animations
• Demonstrative evidence 
• Output — printouts, boards, projectors, discs and videotape

Analyzing Your Case with a Computer

• Contemplating the evidence
• Scanning documents
• Specs to ask your paralegal to meet
• Managing transcripts and pleadings

[15 minute break]

[Part IV: 90 minutes]

Digital Photographs in Court

• Digital vs. film photography
• Presenting photographic evidence
• Veracity and admissibility of digital photographs 
• Photographic evidence techniques

Digital Video In Court

• Video depositions
• Video as real evidence
• Organizing video
• Editing video
• Presenting video evidence
• Admitting video evidence

[Adjourn]