TRIAL
STRATEGY |
| General format for mapping out trial strategy |
| Mapping
out trial strategy is the most important part of a jury research
project. It is the most valuable service The Synchronics Group
Trial Consultants offers, as the process of mapping out trial strategy
builds the skeleton of the case, upon which everything else hangs.
The better planned and conceived the trial strategy, the more successful
the outcome is likely to be. The benefits of taking time at the
beginning of the jury research project to map out a workable, feasible
and persuasive trial strategy, therefore, are enormous. |
| The process involves: |
- Putting together a compelling, cohesive case theme to take to the
jurors
- Identifying 3 - 4 major issues that the jurors have to understand
in order to vote for counsel
- Conceptualizing trial exhibits which will translate those case
issues visually
|
| We begin by analyzing the big picture, finding the
compelling “story,” brainstorming the arguments, identifying
the emotional hook that is going to determine the trial outcome, conceptualizing
ways to translate the key issues into visually persuasive trial exhibits
and selecting the evidence to use in those trial exhibits. |
| Benefits of a well planned and conceived trial strategy |
| After the process for mapping out trial strategy
is completed, counsel has the outline for the whole case, including: |
- What the case is about, i..e, the theme that will capture the jurors’ imagination
- The strategy for coherently developing the theme
- The main issues that jurors have to know to believe the details
behind the theme
- Which witnesses should tell which parts of the story
- Which trial exhibits need to be developed to enhance each witnesses’ testimony
- Which trial exhibits need to be developed for opening statement
|
