Lawyers have long used demonstrative aides to effectively communicate their clients’ stories in a trial. In today’s digital age, using a flip chart or a whiteboard is no longer enough to capture a jury’s attention or persuasively argue a client’s case. Lawyers must use the latest advances in technology to present their clients’ cases.
The attorneys at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger have the ability to use this technology for our clients’ benefit. Combining these advanced tools with the old tried-and-true practices allows us to take full advantage of communication strategies.
Is your lawyer using all of the digital tools at their disposal? If not, here is what you and your case are missing out on:
Tablets
The foremost modern communication tool attorneys should use is the iPad. The iPad is really a computer in tablet form. Our team can use apps like Dropbox to hold the client’s entire file literally in the palm of our hand. Every medical record, document and media file is instantly available with the swipe of a finger. Attorneys can focus their attention on presenting a case instead of sorting papers or searching through records in huge, out-dated filing boxes.
The iPad, or any other brand of a computer tablet, becomes a really powerful tool when it is combined with trial presentation software. Trial presentation software allows attorneys to display elements of the case file, like police reports, photos, medical records or bills, deposition transcripts or video, on a screen. Good software also allows the attorney to digitally annotate, or “mark up,” these images to illustrate their point further.
Software & Applications
Other software can also help a case come more alive. Medical illustration apps for tablets or smartphones can present scale models of the human anatomy. These applications can display everything from muscle groups to bones, veins and arteries and most of the major systems in the body. By swiping, pinching, zooming, and highlighting, our team can provide a visual representation while the client describes where they were hurt, or while a healthcare provider describes the treatment or a future prognosis. Note-taking apps allow the lawyer to take notes during an opposing party’s opening or closing or during witness examination, which can be instantly recalled for use at the trial.
Display Screens & Other Media
Additional hardware can help communicate your client’s narrative visually. When connected to a “smart TV” like the Apple TV, an attorney can display the images on their iPad or smart device to a larger audience. This can be done by connecting directly to a TV screen or a projector for displaying to the jury. Adding an Airport Express to the mix allows us to create a small, wireless network, which allows a lawyer to freely move around the courtroom while performing opening and closing arguments and cross-examination.
In today’s digital world, jurors expect lawyers to keep up with the latest trends in technology. If your lawyer or law firm is not using these tools, they may not be taking full advantage of the ability to best present your case to a jury.
To learn more about the mobile tech tools that are essential for today’s law practices, read BCCN attorney Brian D. Cook’s article for the American Association of Justice Trial Magazine.
The personal injury attorneys at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger are skilled at using these tools to maximize the benefits for our clients. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation: (502) 587-2002