DOs AND DONT'S OF POWERPOINT SLIDE PRESENTATION

DOs of POWERPOINT SLIDE CREATION
• Edit slides/power point presentations down to the essence of the matter you want to communicate and use as few words as possible to convey your message.
• Be sure the design clarifies and enhances the message, not detracts from it.
• Use simple pictures or icons along with the words on bullet-point slides.
• Build slides element by element, adding one point at a time to convey the overall message.
• Use a black screen between slides to keep the jury’s attention on you.
• Use visual presentations that point to life experiences that the jury can understand.
• Use a large display screen.

DONT'S of POWERPOINT SLIDE CREATION

• Use too many words on a particular electronic or overhead slide.
• Fall prey to runaway graphic design-the overuse of pie charts, bar graphs, and clip art.
• Present all information on a slide at one time.
• Show a slide before you talk about it.
• Overlook the persuasive and visual power of color.
• Select color combinations that will be jarring or difficult to read.
• Obscure well-conceived visuals by poor display.
• Use technology for technology’s sake. Technology should not dictate the substance of your case

Gregory J. Morse, Esq. is a Partner at Morse & Morse, LLC, Criminal Trial Attorneys. www.morselegal.com

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Imagine that you are speaking at the Plaza Hotel in New York City to a group of longtime NY residents and you are trying to sell them on the idea of investing in a new skyscraper you want to build in the Bronx by Yankee stadium. You start out trying to relate to them by telling your audience a story of a memorable childhood experience. An experience that you hope will convey that you care for and understand NY.
I remember my dad waking me up early Sunday morning in the summer to catch the train at around 10 am to the ballpark. I looked forward to this all week; I would stay-up late Saturday night oiling my baseball glove. I remember sitting on the train wishing it went faster. Once the doors opened at my stop, the whole train emptied, everyone with the same goal--see our team win! I remember it like it was yesterday; the smell of popcorn and hotdogs in the air; everyone happy. Then the greatest joy of the trip--turning the corner and seeing the stadium with its huge sign FENWAY PARK. You would likely need security to escort you out of the Plaza Hotel. Knowing your audience is the first step in successful communication.
During the last presidential election I thought Sarah Palin should have used the phrase soccer mom instead of hockey mom. I believe a broader base of people identify with the phrase soccer mom than hockey mom. According to USA Hockey, there are approximately 350,000 members in its youth leagues and, according to USA Soccer, there are approximately 3.1 million members in its youth leagues.
Sirus Radio Show host Howard Stern is great at identifying with his audience. He is probably one of the richest and most famous people in entertainment; yet, when he talks about his weekend or an experience a guest had, he describes it as though he doesn't have much money or was in awe of the famous people that he saw. About a year ago Howard Stern was interviewing Kevin Nealon about Jennifer Aniston's birthday party that he attended. Howard asked him what's it like being around all those famous people? It must be great. I wish I could go to a party like that. Howard Stern easily can and probably does go to parties like that. But his audience doesn't and he understands that his show is for his audience.
The first step in delivering a great, effective speech is to KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Gregory J. Morse, Esq. is a Partner at Morse & Morse, LLC, Criminal Trial Attorneys, www.morselegal.com.

COACHING THE WITNESS

Tiger Woods should ask for a refund from all of his PR people. They did a poor job of preparing him for his much anticipated public statement on his maritial indiscretions. He looked like a deer in headlights and his delivery was robotic. He even had to look at his notes to thank the people in the room (see video on youtube).

Now contrast Tiger's apology with Bill Clinton's apology about the Lewinsky situation. Clinton was more comfortable and his delivery was deliberate but not robotic. His apology was significantly more believable than Tiger's (see video on youtube).

While the decision of whether a client is going to testify at trial is generally made by me and the client after the State rests its case, I begin preparing my clients months and months in advance of trial for the possibility that they may testify. I do not ever want my clients to come off rehearsed and robotic; I want their testimony to come out naturally, comfortably--I want them to tell a story not answer questions. While shortly before trial I will discuss potential cross-examination areas the State may get into with the client and practice some specific questions for direct examination, I have my clients practice their "story" months and months in advance of trial so they are comfortable telling their story. They should be able to tell their story as easily as recounting some high school experience or story about a great time on spring break. Juries do not like robots; don't make your clients robots; make them storytellers.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?

G.J. Morse, Esq. Partner at Morse & Morse, LLC, Criminal Trial Attorneys, www.morselegal.com
READ: Techno-jury: Techniques in Verbal & Visual Persuasion: http://www.nyls.edu/user_files/1/3/4/17/49/946/Law%20Review%2054.1_Morse.pdf