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Opening Statements: Tips and Techniques

Learn how to lead the jurors down your path to their verdict rather than your opponent's path.

In addition to the fears about Opening Statements that lawyers know about - public speaking; captive audience; trials are rare - there are pitfalls lawyers don't see . . . and therefore fall into. Worse yet, lawyers often try to accomplish the wrong things with their Opening, thus squandering a great opportunity to make some real headway in framing their case for the layperson jurors. This presentation will help lawyers think a little less like lawyers and a lot more like jurors, and help them better set the filters and frames which would make it easier to lead the jurors down your path to their verdict rather than your opponent's path.

66 minutes
Course Exam
Certificate of Completion
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Agenda

The Purpose of the Opening: What It Can and Cannot Do

  • Setting the Right Frames and Filters for Your Jurors
  • Setting the Right Tone
  • Telling the Right Story

Story: How to Tell a Good One . . . and Avoid Timelines

  • What Is a Story . . . and Why Isn't My Chronology a Story?
  • Crafting and Telling Tell Your Story
  • Visuals in the Opening
  • Framing Your Case

How to Construct Your Opening Statement

  • The Best - for Lack of a Better Word - Template
  • Language and Imagery, Both Verbal and Visual
  • Tone and Delivery

The Mini-Opening Before Voir Dire, Where Permitted

  • The Purpose . . . and the Real Purpose
  • Nearly Universal Lawyer Pitfalls
  • The Right Way to Construct Your Mini-Opening
  • Your Voir Dire/Jury Selection Strategy Doesn'T Exist Independently of Your Opening, nor Vice Versa
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Credits

OnDemand Course

Applications have not yet been submitted for Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming CLE for this course. However, if you are interested in obtaining CLE for any of the listed states or have any additional credit questions please email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-352-9540.

This course was last revised on May 10, 2024.

Call 1-866-352-9540 for further credit information.

  • AK CLE 1.0
     
  • Alaska attorneys may receive 1.0 hours of continuing legal education for completing this program. Please contact the Alaska Bar Association or go to www.alaskabar.org for details regarding reciprocity with other states.
     
  • AL CLE 1.1
     
  • This course or a portion thereof has been approved by the Alabama State Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a maximum of 1.1 hours credit.
     
  • AR CLE 1.0
     
  • This course has been approved for 1.0 hours of CLE by the Arkansas CLE Board.
     
  • Arizona CLE 1.0
     
  • The Arizona State Bar does not pre-approve or pre-certify MCLE programs. However, records of this program and attendance will be maintained by Lorman Education Services for auditing purposes. This activity may qualify for up to 1.0 hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.
     
  • CA MCLE 1.0
     
  • Lorman Education Services is a State Bar of California approved MCLE sponsor and this course qualifies for 1.0 CLE hours of participatory credit.
     
  • CT CLE 1.0
     
  • Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approve or accredit CLE providers or activities. This course has been approved for CLE credit in jurisdictions aside from CT and therefore it automatically meets the content and delivery requirements in Connecticut. Credit is based on a 60 minute credit hour and shall be awarded as follows: 1.0 CLE credit(s).
     
  • FL CLE 1.5 including Civil Trial 1.5
     
  • This course has been approved by The Florida Bar for 1.5 hours of CLE credit. This course has been approved by The Florida Bar Certification Plan in the area of Civil Trial for 1.50 hours. Course classification: Intermediate level.
     
  • GA CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency for 1.0 CLE hours.
     
  • HI CLE 1.0
     
  • This program was approved by the Hawaii State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE credit hours.
     
  • IA CLE 1.0
     
  • Opening Statements: Tips and Techniques is accredited under the regulations of the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education. It is planned that this program will provide up to a maximum of 1.0 hour(s) of unmoderated credit towards the mandatory continuing legal education requirements under the Iowa rule.
     
  • IL CLE 1.0
     
  • This course was approved for a total of 1.0 hours of MCLE Credit by the Illinois MCLE Board.
     
  • IN CLE 1.1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Indiana Commission on Continuing Legal Education. Participating attorneys are eligible to receive up to 1.1 hours of Distance Education credit.
     
  • MN CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 hours of credit.
     
  • MO CLE 1.3
     
  • This course qualifies for self-study CLE credit in Missouri.
     
  • MS CLE 1.1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a maximum of 1.1 credit hours.
     
  • NC CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE hours.
     
  • ND CLE 1.0
     
  • North Dakota CLE policy does not allow for pre-approval of any self-study courses. This course may qualify for up to 1.0 hours of CLE credit.
     
  • NH MCLE 1.1
     
  • NH MCLE does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the NH Minimum CLE requirement. Lorman Education Services believes this Ondemand course meets the requirement of NH Supreme Court Rule 53 and may qualify for CLE credit(s). Program Length: 66 Minutes.
     
  • NJ CLE 1.3
     
  • This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.3 hours of total CLE credit.
     
  • NM CLE 1.1
     
  • This program has been approved by the New Mexico Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.1 hours of credit.
     
  • NV CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE hours.
     
  • NY CLE 1.0 including Skills 1
     
  • This course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York Continuing Legal Education Board for up to a maximum of 1.0 credit hours in the area(s) of Skills for 1.00 hour. Each hour may be counted only as satisfying one category of credit. Duplicate credit for the same hour of instruction is not permitted. This course qualifies for credit for established attorneys only. Lorman Education- Noggin Guru, Inc. has a financial hardship guideline. Please contact customer service at 1.866.352.9539 for instructions on how to apply.
     
  • OH CLE 1.0
     
  • This course has been approved by the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE credit hours. Please note: No more than twelve (12) hours of self-study CLE credit for any biennial reporting period may be earned by an Attorney or Judge under Regulation 409.2. To fulfill CLE requirements for self-study, web-based programs, you must complete 100% of the polling questions during the program. Your hours will be filed electronically within thirty (30) business days by Lorman Education Services provided you fulfilled 100% attendance and polling questions answered.
     
  • OR CLE 1.0
     
  • Approved for 1.0 CLE credits in Oregon.
     
  • PA CLE 1.0
     
  • This Distance Learning program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hours of substantive law, practice and procedure CLE credit.
     
  • RI CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the Rhode Island Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for 1.0 hours of CLE credit.
     
  • TN CLE 1.1
     
  • This program has been approved as a distance learning format by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a maximum of 1.1 hours of credit.
     
  • TX MCLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.0 credit hours. Lorman Education Services is an accredited sponsor, approved by the State Bar of Texas, Committee on MCLE. This program has been approved by the Texas State Bar College for 1.0 hours of CLE credit.
     
  • UT CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the Utah State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE hours.
     
  • VT CLE 1.0
     
  • This self-study program has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board of Vermont for 1.0 hour(s) of CLE credit. Please note: Attorneys may only claim 12 credits per compliance period in this format. This course is considered "Non-Moderated Programming without Interactivity".
     
  • WA CLE 1.0
     
  • This program has been approved by the Washington State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 hours of A/V credit under the Law & Legal Procedure category.
     
  • WI CLE 1.0
     
  • This program qualifies for 1.0 hour(s) of ondemand CLE through the WI Board of Bar Examiners.
     
  • WV MCLE 1.4
     
  • This program has been approved by the West Virginia State Bar MCLE Commission for 1.4 MCLE hours.
     
The CLE Code is ONLY a requirement when applying for CLE Credit in New York. Other states do not need to supply the CLE Code to apply for CLE credit.

To earn each credit Lorman offers through the OnDemand learning platform, you need to watch 100% of the program. Also, for certain credits you will need to fulfill additional requirements which will be displayed on the "credits" tab when viewing the course.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

MP3 Download

  • AK CLE 1.0
     
  • Arizona CLE 1.0
     
  • CA MCLE 1.0
     
  • CT CLE 1.0
     
  • HI CLE 1.0
     
  • MO CLE 1.3
     
  • NJ CLE 1.3
     
  • NM CLE 1.0
     
  • NY CLE 1.0 including Skills 1
     
  • OR CLE 1.0
     
  • VT CLE 1.0
     
  • WA CLE 1.0
     
  • WV MCLE 1.3
     
  • WY CLE 1.0
     
The CLE Code is ONLY a requirement when applying for CLE Credit in California (for participatory credit), Kansas, New Jersey or New York. Other states do not need to supply the CLE Code to apply for CLE credit.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Faculty

Richard P. Matthews

Richard P. Matthews

Juryology

  • Principal trial consultant of Juryology, located in San Francisco
  • Combines research with psychology with artistic craft to get the best results from jurors
  • Expertise includes separating jury issues from legal issues; crafting the themes and frames that will shape juror perception of a case; writing openings and closings like an actual human actually speaks to other actual humans; witness preparation; and all things related to jury selection from juror questionnaires and voir dire questions to exercising cause and peremptory challenges
  • Innovated the use of focus group results at mediations and in negotiations to achieve better settlements in a shorter time than clients had experienced without them
  • Achieved successful results for both plaintiffs and defendants in the civil world, and prosecutors and defendants in criminal cases
  • Appeared on national television and in major publications offering commentary on high-profile trials
  • Serves on the California Bar’s Litigation Section’s Committee for comment on proposed revisions to California’s standard jury instructions, lending his juror expertise to improving the understanding and clarity of jury instructions
  • J.D. Degree, University of Oregon School of Law
  • Can be contacted at Juryology.com, @Juryology, LinkedIn® Juryology, or [email protected]
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

All of your training, right here at Lorman

All of your training, right here at Lorman.

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Product ID: 411209
Published 2024
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