"Persuading a jury that will not even look at you because of the heinousness of your client's alleged crime is an art. Of course, you must have something to work with. There must be evidence, an alternative narrative, a weakness in the prosecution case. You cannot make bricks without straw. But given a little straw, the task becomes: how do you persuade twelve reluctant men and women to see the world as you see it?"
"I used to liken it to spinning plates. You find a point that resonates with one or two jurors. You see it-a nod, a flicker of recognition, eye contact. Then you move to another, without losing the first. Gradually you build momentum: four plates, then six, then more. By the end, you aim to have all twelve engaged-watching you, following you, perhaps even smiling at a well-judged moment of levity. If you can make them laugh, so much the better."
"Again, you must know your case inside out. You must understand where you are vulnerable and where you are strong. But you must also read the room. The audience has changed: no longer a jury, but counsel-often a KC-and, crucially, those behind them. In high-value clinical negligence claims, the real decision-makers are not always the advocates. Acting for a claimant, you may face a barrister, a solicitor, and an insurer or trust repre"
A long legal career in criminal advocacy and professional negligence informs legal thriller writing. Persuasion and negotiation depend on reading the room and tailoring approach to reluctant decision-makers. In criminal cases, jurors may reject a defendant’s alleged crime, so advocates need evidence, an alternative narrative, and weaknesses in the prosecution case. Advocates must first sell themselves so jurors trust them enough to follow through the evidence, building a quiet bond. Momentum is created by finding points that resonate with individual jurors and expanding engagement until all are attentive. These skills transfer to civil litigation, where advocates must know their case and also read the room, including counsel and those behind them, since decision-makers may include insurers or trusts.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]