News — Michael Leizerman

Reviewed by Anna Burr Originally published in the Oct/Nov 2018 issue of Trial Talk, the bi-monthly magazine of the Colorado State Trial Lawyer's Association. Of all the trial strategy resources available to attorneys, connecting with the jury may be the most important one.  We enter courtrooms as perhaps the least credible of everyone present, and as quickly as possible, we must establish a rapport with the six skeptics in the jury box.  Ideally, we accomplish this feat while also crushing defense experts, villainizing defendants, appeasing the judge, and highlighting our worthy clients.  It’s a lot.  In the new book, The Zen Lawyer: Winning...

By Michael Leizerman After identifying the strongest defense arguments in a case and slashing away issues that are not necessary to win the case, I look for the Core Truth. This is the issue that I stress in opening and return to in each direct and cross examination, along with closing argument. I look to reduce the issues in the plaintiff’s case to as few as possible to reduce the jury’s and judge’s resistance to persuasion. The more you try to persuade, the more resistance you will encounter. This is so counter-intuitive that it can be difficult for lawyers to understand. You...