“The best trial lawyers act like teachers … . They tell stories. Juries process facts by storytelling. Storytelling makes ideas stick.” – Gerry Spence

“Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” – Jean-Luc Godard

Many business executives or in-house counsel wonder whether they can trust their complicated business dispute to a jury of six lay people or a judge with scant knowledge of the industry, technology or science underlying the case. With this concern in mind, they often search out counsel with specialized technical expertise in the hopes this will solve the problem, and will make it easier for the client to communicate with their counsel. While experience in a particular area of the law is advisable and detailed knowledge of the industry is helpful, extensive knowledge by counsel of the science or technology may not be required up front. Technically trained attorneys may actually struggle when they try to translate their superior knowledge to “lay” people. Attorneys who create and deliver a clear narrative can often connect most effectively with judges and jurors.