Meeting Jurors Where They Are: Effective Trial Communication

Complex cases can lose their persuasive force when jurors struggle to follow the evidence, trust the witnesses, or connect the facts to a consistent narrative. As discussed in a recent IMS Elevate interview, effective trial communication requires attorneys to meet jurors where they are by presenting information in a conversational manner, addressing difficult facts candidly, and reinforcing a focused theme from the opening statement through deliberations. The following strategies can help attorneys build and present stronger cases that speak to today’s juries.

1) Keep Juror Perspectives in Mind from the Start

Attorneys can lose control of the case narrative when they communicate from their own perspective rather than the jury’s. Legal teams may understand the facts, terminology, and procedural history, but jurors encounter the case without that foundation.