How to Become a Better Courtroom Advocate
There are many aspects to excelling in the legal profession, including honing your skills as an advocate--particularly as a courtroom advocate. The ability to present your client's case and advocate forcefully in a courtroom setting is essential to success in the legal profession. You can employ some strategies and tactics to aid in achieving your objective of becoming a better courtroom advocate.
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Instructions
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Observe other accomplished attorneys at work in court. Although you want to develop your own courtroom style, you benefit from seeing other experience lawyers in action. Every community is home to attorneys with reputations for strong courtroom presentations. Take advantage of this ready resource and make notes about tactics these professionals employ for your own future consideration.
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Purchase a video camera.
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Video yourself practicing different aspects if a courtroom presentation. Virtually all attorneys practice opening and closing statements (and many videotape these components of a case). However, that is not enough. Practice and video a sets of questions to witnesses and other aspects of the case.
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View and review the video--but not alone. Most people are unable to accurately evaluate themselves on video. Find a colleague you know to be thoughtful, honest and skilled in courtroom presentation to view and critique a video of your practice session.
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Read books written by lawyers with well-established reputations for courtroom excellence. "Win Your Case: How to Present, Persuade, and Prevail--Every Place, Every Time" by Gerry Spence is an example of such a text.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider having a member of your office staff attend a trial or hearing with you to critique a real-life performance by you.
No matter how much you prepare for a hearing or a trial, true success in the courtroom depends upon your ability to be quick on your feet. At virtually any hearing and certainly every trial, a proverbial "curveball" is tossed at a lawyer. Being able to respond logically and coherently in a such a situation is crucial to courtroom success.
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Comments
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Richard Hastings
Dec 25, 2009
Perhaps the single best thing you can do to improve your presentation skills from the classroom to the boardroom to the courtroom is to join Toastmasters International. You will get to learn from others and can practice your presentations in front of an audience of compassionate people who will provide you with constructive comments in a very positive environment. Look them up online, there are clubs throughout the world. You will be amazed at how quickly you will improve your communication skills.
