Twelve Heroes, One Voice
Guiding Jurors to Courageous Verdicts
Carl Bettinger
Hardcover: 188 pages; 1st edition (2011)
Description
What happens in a trial when you make the jurors care? You get a Verdict with a capital "V." Twelve Heroes, One Voice shows you how to make your jurors care through the art of storytelling. Author Carl Bettinger presents the ‘hero-centric’ story, and explains why jurors are pre-programmed to understand information in this format. You’ll transform yourself into the mentor, the defendant into the villain, the plaintiff into the brave victim, and the unwilling jury into the heroes of the story. Through Bettinger’s hero-centric storytelling methods, you’ll understand how to show the jurors that they must be the heroes, and "save the day" with a verdict that speaks not just for your client, but for your cause.
Filled with a plethora of actual transcript and easy-to-understand examples, Bettinger takes you through opening, in which you define the story roles of everyone in the courtroom, through direct- and cross-exam, which further the character development roles in your story, to closing, in which you show the jurors that they are the only ones who can write the conclusion to the story and save the day. You’ll discover the difference between a case and a story, and learn how to find the point of view in your stories that will appeal to a jury.
This masterpiece on storytelling concludes with a series of story-creating exercises to help get your brain thinking in terms of "story" instead of "case," and to get your creative juices flowing. Make your next jury the hero and get your Verdict with a capital "V" by following Bettinger’s storytelling advice.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Biases, Codes, Rules, and Reptiles: The Search for a Unified Theory
2. Story Structure
3. Much Ado About Story
4. Hero-centric Characters in the Courtroom
5. Finding, and Showing, the Stories
6. Voir Dire: The New World
7. Opening: Building Your Story
8. Direct- and Cross-Examination
9. Closing: Do You Want a Song, or a Hit?
10. Final Thoughts
Appendix: Story Exercises
Media Coverage
12/30/2011 — Twelve Heroes, One Voice reviewed by Janet Santillanes, J.D. and Olivia Neidhardt, J.D. in The New Mexico Trial Lawyer (Nov./Dec. 2011).
8/30/2011 — Twelve Heroes, One Voice reviewed by Sylvia Hsieh in LawyersUSA (Oct. 2011).
7/24/2011 — Twelve Heroes, One Voice reviewed by Michael Leizerman on the blog, Michael’s Law Page.
Success Stories
"I read Twelve Heroes, One Voice last week while I prepared for trial. It resonated with me and transformed my prep and our trial. I told my client’s story. I gave up the power to write the ending. Before I read the book, this was a ‘soft tissue- no objective findings case.’ Allstate offered $9k. I asked for $66k. I said my client wouldn’t think that was enough if you asked him, but it was what I was comfortable asking for. The jury heard the story and awarded $91k. There was no reptile in the courtroom. Only heroes. Thank you."
—David M. Bolt
This isn’t another book of generalities. It is a book with a detailed outline and clear examples for presenting your case by making the jurors the hero of your client’s story.
—Paul Luvera; Trial Lawyer of the Year, The American Board of Trial Advocates, Washington Chapter; past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates
This book provides the magic sword and armor to transform jurors from ordinary people into heroes and sheroes empowered to make our communities safer through their verdicts. It may even help you find the hero in yourself.
—Randi McGinn; listed in Best Lawyers in America; University of New Mexico Women’s Law Caucus Recipient of the 2005 Justice Mary Walters Award; member of the Inner Circle of Advocates
I have tried several hundred serious criminal jury trials. I thought there was little new to learn in persuading juries, yet I devoured Carl’s book. I look forward to using these techniques in upcoming trials. This book is invaluable.
—Rick Kammen, listed in Best Lawyers in America (criminal defense) 1985–2011
Like Rules of the Road, David Ball on Damages, and The Persuasive Edge, this is another Trial Guides book that is a must-have for any plaintiff’s lawyer’s library. Carl is a true hero to every trial lawyer for writing, sharing his skills and wisdom with us so that we can better help our clients.
—Paul Scoptur, board of directors of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, professor of law at Marquette University Law School, listed in Best Lawyers in America 2002–2011
Story, our most primitive and still most robust method of communication, is what jurors make up for themselves unless you create a good one for them. Bettinger’s powerful way to do that should become the gold standard for every closing we do from now on. In Twelve Heros, One Voice Bettinger writes, teaches, and inspires with wisdom and heroic fervor. Don’t miss this new Trial Guides classic-in-the-making.
—David Ball, author of David Ball on Damages 3, co-author of Reptile.
Carl Bettinger well teaches the hero’s journey because he’s taken it himself. Study this book. You’ll find the hero’s journey in your life and your client’s as well. More important, you’ll learn to take the jury on its heroic journey to justice for your cause.
—Jim Fitzgerald, member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates of Trial Lawyers, and listed in Best Lawyers in America
I have found that the best books about how to be a trial lawyer are not law books. They are books about psychology, literature, and stories. Twelve Heroes, One Voice is the first book that really brings it all together.
—Conard Metcalf, fellow of the International Society of Barristers, listed in Best Lawyers in America
No one could not come away a better lawyer if they can master the concepts of this latest contribution to make us all better spokespersons for our clients.
—William H. (Bill) Carpenter, member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, past president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association
When Carl Bettinger produces the simple truth of the honest story for the empowered jury, the most skilled defense lawyer has no defense.
—Bruce Hall, Albuquerque Appellate Lawyer of the Year, 2001; listed in Best Lawyers in America
An innovative, creative work that will help every lawyer better represent her client in the courtroom.
—Anne M. Valentine, listed in Best Lawyers in America, past president of Ohio Trial Lawyer
Carl Bettinger’s book Twelve Heroes, Once Voice is essential for trial lawyers who want to learn how to truly connect with jurors and empower them to have the courage to provide justice for their clients.
—Barbara Bergman, Professor of Law, University of New Mexico School of Law; recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Trial Advocacy, Stetson School of Law, 2010
Before I was halfway through the first read (there will be many return visits to this book) I was excitedly trying out what I’d learned so far.
—Marjorie Russell, Professor of Law, chair of litigation skills, Thomas Cooley Law School
Carl integrated Homer and Cervantes with popular cinema to help us understand how to tell a story, the importance of juror empowerment, and the importance of self-empowerment., diplomat in the National College of Advocacy
—Mark R Kosieradzki, past president of the Minnesota Association for Justice, listed in
A triumph. Once upon a time, I was losing hope that there were ways to win at trial other than by playing off juror’s fears and biases. Playing the hero, Mr. Bettinger has restored my faith.
—Mark D. Samson, plaintiff’s attorney for the Edwards verdict, a transfusion-associated AIDS case which remains the largest personal injury verdict in Arizona history, $28.7 million
Every courtroom lawyer has one book that he or she reaches for in order to prepare for the next major trial. This is the book I will reach for from now on.
—James E. Girards, Texas Super Lawyer 2004–2011 and director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Carl gives you what the Reptile left out. Learn why fear is not the end all and be all. Carl shows you how mentorship of the jury, earning their trust and empowering them will lead to heroic plaintiff’s verdicts even in these times.
—Roy D. Turner, chair of the AAJ Nursing Home Litigation Group, inaugural and past chair, Virginia Trial Lawyers Long-Term Care Litigation Section
Carl Bettinger is an outstanding trial lawyer and creative thinker who has authored one of the best books ever written on trial advocacy, Twelve Heroes, One Voice.
—Garvin A. Isaacs, listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers, 2007–2010
Twelve Heroes, One Voice brings to light how the hero-villain-mentor relationship between the jury and lawyer can be examined and illuminated in-depth. Carl explains how to reach justice alongside the jury. No tricks, no illusions, no slight of hand—just the plain, simple truth.
—Ann Deutscher, named on of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Washington State, 2008–2010
Twelve Heroes, One Voice is the best book I have read about the fundamentals of storytelling as they apply in the courtroom. It is clear, practical and filled with real-life examples. If you want to learn how to empower jurors, you need to read this book.
—Joane Garcia-Colson, psychodramtic trial consultant, trial lawyer, former executive director of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, co-author of Trial in Action
A unique take on how to make your case come to life in the courtroom by actively engaging the people who matter the most in trial—the jurors—through empowerment and hero-making.
—Fredilyn Sison, co-author of Trial in Action, formerly faculty of The Trial Lawyers College and the Advanced National Federal Defenders Program
Like all good stories, Twelve Heroes, One Voice draws us ever onward. Bettinger shows us why and how to care for our clients. It invites us all to be larger than our present conception of ourselves.
—Mary Peckham, co-author of Trial in Action, certified practitioner of psychodrama, former faculty of The Trial Lawyers College