Jennifer Zedalis
Trying Cases: Promise, Prove, Persuadeis a book for lawyers who want to understand the dynamic relationship between a lawyer and all the other people involved in a trial. Trial lawyers must do many things during a trial, and they must do them verywell. Trial practice is more complex than other types of legal service because it happens like a live broadcast, in the moment. Clients exercise their right to trial when other methods of dispute resolution have failed. Lawyers prepare for trial when no other option will work. Preparation is essential, but there is never a true blueprint for a trial. Each trial is unique. Once the jurors are seated and the story begins to unfold, there is no time to proofread or do over. Trial lawyers must hear and see the case as the jurors see it. They must listen carefully. They must make decisions quickly. They must know how to present and challenge witnesses with skill. They must know how to edit a case based on admissibility and protect the record for a potential appeal. They must know how to capture the compelling aspects of the evidence in their opening statements and closing arguments. Most importantly, trial lawyers must know how to promisein a credible, realistic sense, how to proveskillfully, and how to persuadejurors that the client should prevail. 3
