Storytelling & The Model for Winning at Trial

Even before our ancient ancestors learned to communicate through writing, they told stories. The earliest pictograms tell of victories over — or fears of — ferocious beasts. Our history is a string of stories.

When you stand before a jury, you will tell a story. Every trial lawyer tells a story — with characters and themes and plots. Whether the story is one of murder and intrigue, of commercial disruption, or of a breach of contract, the elements of the story remain. It is, then, the art of the storyteller that determines if the jury “gets it.”

Russ Herman is a master of the art of blending classical techniques into contemporary settings so that his audience — his jury — feels the story. That is his key to courtroom success — one that he employs in courtrooms across America on a weekly basis.

In this captivating presentation, Herman exposes and exemplifies the 45 common rhetorical and oratory techniques available to you to incorporate into your case stories. He punctuates the presentation with proven examples from his own experience and from other noteworthy courtroom veterans. He also highlights his points with video drawn from a variety of sources — from popular culture as well as legal venues.

Highlights

• Learn the 45 rhetorical and oratorical devices commonly incorporated into opening statements and summations.
• Learn to weave the elements of a story into cohesive statements about good and bad, danger and safety, conflict and resolution.
• Gather a wealth of resources to reenergize your storytelling prowess long after the program has ended.

Program Outline (3 hours)

[Part I: 90 minutes]

Storytelling & the Model for Winning at Trial

• Rhetorical techniques and psychological concepts 
• The Rule of Three

[15 minute break]

[Part II: 90 minutes]

• Art, Drama & Science
• Use of universals, themes and environment 
• Preparation, structure and persuasion 
• Coming full circle