What’s the story? That’s the question that a detective asks upon arriving at a crime scene; the question a doctor asks the patient in the emergency room; and the question a teacher asks when she catches two students in the act of some mischief. And in this article, it’s the question jurors (and judges) ask of lawyers.
Story is the most powerful form of persuasion—as confirmed by every trial advocacy course and book on the art and practice of persuasion. Trouble is, we lawyers are not trained to think like storytellers. We’re trained to think, write and speak in a logical and orderly manner—avoiding narratives not germane to the main argument. But everyone wants to know the story and everyone loves a good story—especially if it’s told by someone who is prepared, engaging and passionate. This article discusses some basic principles—borrowed mostly from screenwriting—for good storytelling to make your arguments more interesting, compelling and persuasive.
