18: Now Presenting: Why You Need a Trial Tech to Run the Show, with Shannon Bales and Alicia Aquino
In Episode 18 of “May the Record Reflect,” we’re talking about something that’s all too often an afterthought when a case goes to trial: the electronic courtroom presentation. When expertly executed by a trial technologist, a trial presentation will provide you and your fact-finders one shortcut after another that ease courtroom procedures and benefit your client. Trial technologists Shannon Bales and Alicia Aquino share their insights, recommendations, and best practices that will have you convinced that a trial tech is an integral part of a winning team. Topics4:37 Electronic trial presentation today6:55 Why a trial tech is crucial to your outcomes8:45 EDRM, the litigation lifecycle11:43 Bring them in early in the litigation13:14 Why trial presentations matter16:23 How “cat lawyer” memes happen18:17 What trial techs know that you don’t20:10 E-discovery and trial23:57 Fact analysis tools26:20 Best practices for virtual proceedings30:37 Timeline for your tech rehearsal33:15 Exhibit “tutorials” for fact-finders34:25 Becoming a trial tech38:11 Trial Presentation Companion tips39:41 UN War Crimes Tribunal experience41:12 Types of software48:03 A mistake firms make49:39 Outfitting your war room57:17 A note for small firms and solo practitioners59:34 Renting versus owning equipment1:01:17 Helping the opposing team1:07:08 Signature signoff questionQuotes“Trial presentation is an efficiency aid for the court. That’s the number-one thing we’re there to do. We’re hired there, of course, to help our team, but the way that we get through the door is that we’re there to make things efficient for the court so that the proceedings will move along at a quick pace and not waste the court’s time.” (Shannon Bales) “Bring [trial techs] in early on. Let us take a look at the evidence, at the exhibits. I can’t tell you how many times that the attorney is presenting their case and then at the end the judge says, ‘You know, this could have easily been done in a timeline. Do you think you can just put together a timeline? That would’ve saved us four days of testimony,’ and I, probably in the background, was saying, ‘Hey, you know, let’s put together a chart, a timeline. Let’s put graphics. Let’s tell the story a little bit better.’ And when you have somebody on your team that’s able to incorporate the graphics and storytelling, it just makes you look that much more organized.” (Alicia Aquino) Recommended ResourcesShannon Bales (LinkedIn)Alicia Aquino (Aquino Trial Services)The Trial Presentation Companion (book)What Juries Really Think: Practical Guidance for Trial Lawyers (article)Online Courtroom Project(website)COVID, the Court, and the Future of the Jury Trial (webcast)