Use a persuasive story structure.

Jurors may have a hard time remembering all the information you present during a trial. Using a story structure can help them keep track of the big picture.

A story is easy to grasp--a juror does not need a user's manual or academic course to understand it. For thousands of years, people have used storytelling to relate historical events, convey ideas, and inspire action.

Like any persuasive narrative, your trial story should begin with a brief but attention-grabbing opening that sets the stage--for example, "We are here today because Jane Smith is dead." People who write about screenwriting agree that a story is essentially a problem-solving tool. That's because there is always an "inciting incident" that kicks off a story and sets up a situation that the protagonist has to resolve.

Keep jurors engaged by making them the protagonists, saying, for example, 'You are detectives in this case, on a mission to solve the crime." This heightens their interest and makes them feel like they are at the center of the action which in fact is the reality of the situation.

Then tell them what their part in the story will involve. For example, you might say, "Jane Smith died of a rare cancer known to be caused by a chemical produced by Company X. We think Company X knew about the dangers of the chemical and didn't tell anyone. You get to follow the clues and find out exactly what happened."

Everybody loves a good puzzle, and if you start by introducing one that the protagonists can solve, you'll keep them engaged because they will naturally want to solve it.

A persuasive story structure also provides a memorable framework in which jurors can hold the entire case. A story with a clear theme helps jurors relate the case to something they already know, increasing the chance that they will remember more details.

By applying a persuasive story structure, you can keep jurors engaged and focused from beginning to end.

Cliff Atkinson

Los Angeles