That's really the key. You can read all the books you want, but there's no experience that can replace actually standing in front of people and TRYING shit, good or bad.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45847190)

I hope that same annoying client's mother/girlfriend/brother finds your personal cell phone number and calls you at all hours of the night just to do a 3-way jail call with the annoying client who is pissed about why you haven't gotten his charges dismissed yet.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45847301)

They want to hear someone telling them the truth, even if that person is neverous as shit and stammering. They can tell if you are being sincere.

That's the real focus.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45849964)

The hardest cases to try to a jury, at least for me, are ones where I can't do that, either because of a paucity of property damage or some other major weakness to the case.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45850119)

2) have some sort of shtick that reliably plays to jurors you are reliably able to get through in voir dire. A set you play to. This will usually be the same set you specialize your practice around, but need not be.

3) be credible and compelling. You should project sincerity. This can come from believing your own BS (most common), or from genuinely trying to live the right sort of life (vanishing rare).

4) Lame but true: take some acting courses or something -- do some improv, act in some plays. Learn how to project and how to use space.

5) Know your role. Some people are great with experts, suck with other stuff; some are great on cross and on defense, but can't sell the affirmative case. It's usu best to figure out what your natural "typecast" role is and get rly good at it than to try to burnish stuff you're never going to be good at (if you have partners to help you).

6) Practice a lot. Do mock trials with mock juries whenever client is foolish enough to spring for it. Bug colleagues and ask them how you did, what you could do better. If you can, ask judges during events or w/e the same.

Always ask if you can poll the jury post-verdict. Don't be afraid to ask them faggy Hollywood type questions about how you did -- they're often happy to talk to you about it (if trial didn't go on too long).

7) Study top practitioners. Really break down what they do -- study them like a boxer studying for a match. Ditto for performances in movies and the like.

8) Know trial objections and evidence law cold. This should come with experience (though for many, it really doesn't). Keep abreast of all that stuff. Need to be able to fire off objections fast; make sure you don't waive by failing to present stuff @ close of evidence; etc.

9) Become proficient at working with your A/V vendors (or doing it yourself) & making presentations. Can make all the difference.

10) Have fun! Most people suck.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45849951)

3

8

10 are the only rules you need to master

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45849976)

The difficulty most people have at least on the civil side is actually getting enough jury trials. It takes a few years to amass enough for ABOTA for example.

I've been at it for 20 years and I have a grand total of 23 jury trials that I first-chaired that went all the way to verdict. I know because I did the ABOTA application this year.

I would add: get into focus groups. See how the juries act when they are all together discussing the case. Most people are not xo monsters; they genuinely want to do the right thing.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45850110)

Insurance companies make it hard because they KNOW who will try a case and they will string the case out until the very last minute just to see what you'll do.

It's hard to tell a client, "No, turn down this GOOD OFFER, let's see what 12 random jurors think the case is worth"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45850262)

I've got like 250 bench trials but those dont count either.

ABOTA isn't a big deal around here. I get the impression its a much bigger deal in California. But apparently I got unanimous vote for it so that's good. Annual fee is kinda pricey.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45850323)

I fucked up once on something at trial about ten years ago and it really bothered me. When I called the foreperson after the losing verdict to ask about it, he was helpful. He said, "Yeah you fumbled that play, but the problem wasn't with that -- it was that we didn't want to hold the radiologist responsible for what the doctor did thereafter" or something like that. That was super helpful because it made me sharpen my closing schtick on the meaning of "*A* proximate cause"

Also, argue your case in voir dire. That's your time to connect with the jury before the hard grind of trial starts in earnest. I love voir dire. Even if the judge is stepping all over it, keep plugging away. at least 50 percent of the point of the questions should be to PRIME the jury to rule your way. So ask the question, get stomped, and move to the next question--ask it, get stomped, etc. It doesnt matter nearly as much as you'd think--they hear the questions even if they dont have to answer them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5278491&forum_id=2#45850351)