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From Hostage to Hero: Captivate the Jury by Setting Them Free
“With this book, Sari joins the ranks of David Ball, Josh Karton, and other great nonlawyers who understand our jobs well enough to actually make a contribution to our cases and performance. Sari is a gifted teacher, and there is practical, trial-ready advice on nearly every page.”
—Rick Friedman, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and coauthor of Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Guide to Proving Liability
Jurors feel like hostages. They are ordinary people who desperately need you to show them how to be the fair-minded heroes your client needs. Heroism requires a choice. It’s up to you to inspire jurors to take action.
Some jurors are confused, scared, or even angry. They’ve been inconvenienced and forced to take time away from their lives in order to participate in something that some of them view as a waste of time. They don’t want to be there, and they have zero interest in you and your client’s case. Yet, they have no choice. Like it or not, they must remain.
Sari de la Motte is an expert in nonverbal intelligence who has consulted on cases with some of the top trial lawyers in the country, including members of the Inner Circle of Advocates. In From Hostage to Hero, she teaches you how to convey meaning and purpose to jurors so they’ll wake up and want to actively participate in your client’s case.
Sari offers insights and lessons that will help you create effective presentations from the hours and hours you’ve spent learning your client’s case. And she provides examples from cases she’s consulted on to demonstrate how you can start applying those lessons today. By learning how to effectively communicate your leadership, you can learn how to inspire jurors to move from being hostages who feel trapped in a room to heroes who want to help your client find justice.
Do you want the eBook and print book? After you complete your purchase of the print book you will receive a coupon code via email to purchase the eBook for $20.
Paperback: 378 pages; 1st edition (2019); ISBN: 9781941007914
Publisher: Trial Guides, LLC
Foreword by Randi McGinn
Introduction
Part 1: Preparing for Your Mission
Part 2: Operation Rescue
Step One: Introduce Safety
Step Two: Invite Engagement
Step Three: Inspire Commitment
Step Four: Incite Action
Conclusion: Waiting for the Verdict
— Paul Luvera, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and the Washington State Trial Lawyers AssociationMy experience, over fifty-five years of trial work involving well over one hundred jury trials, confirms the unique insight about the jury selection process which is so clearly outlined in this book. A lot of articles and books have been written over the years about jury selection concepts, but this is the first book I’ve read which so clearly and understandably provides accurate insight about the true precepts involved. Every trial lawyer who is involved in a jury trial should read this book first.
— Tom D’Amore, past president of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and recipient of the Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice AwardSari expertly combines the many years of training and practice I have personally experienced through her coaching into one book. If there is just one thing that you take from Sari and her book, it’s that you must focus on yourself to become a great trial lawyer. If you only focus on the jurors, you are missing the bigger picture. Sari will show you what you are really communicating to jurors (you may be surprised) and cautions trial attorneys to turn the camera on themselves before attempting to understand the body language of jurors. Read the book! Sari will teach you how to look at yourself and your jury in an entirely different way.
— Dorothy Clay-Sims, author of Exposing the Deceptive Defense DoctorFear is often the single greatest reason we lose cases. Ms. de la Motte does an outstanding job of addressing the fear both we and the jurors experience. She addresses the threat response and how it affects both the juror’s brains and ours as well. We NEED to understand how the brain works in order to be successful. This book is very helpful to lawyers in the trenches. It addresses issues that every trial lawyer faces and is a must-read.
— John Coletti, member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and International Society of Barristers, former adjunct professor of Advanced Trial Advocacy at Lewis and Clark Law SchoolI first met Sari when she presented at an Inner Circle of Advocates meeting. I was impressed by her ability to simplify the difficult art of effective and authentic communication. I’ve now had the privilege of working with Sari on multiple cases and have never been disappointed by the value she adds. Effective and authentic communication, particularly in today’s day and age, is paramount. This book is a must-read for every lawyer who’s willing to invest the energy and discipline into becoming a better trial lawyer through refined, authentic, and effective communication.
— Corrie Yackulic, fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Top 50 Women Lawyers, listed in Super Lawyersfor Washington 2016–2019No one has thought more about how trial lawyers can do a better job enlisting and communicating with jurors than Sari de la Motte. Her workshops on voir dire and opening statement are intense, lively, and deeply empowering. With her book, Sari has done the remarkable: she has distilled her expertise on such topics as group formation, personality types (of jurors and lawyers), trust building, persuasion—grounded in science and years of observation—and presented it all in an accessible and, yes, lively read. She is wary of one-size-fits-all prescriptions; this book will be useful for every trial lawyer, whatever her strengths, weaknesses, and experience. This is a book I will always go to as I prepare for trial.
— Debra Nelson, the Nelson Lawfirm, LLCWhen I read this book, I honestly thought it was written for me. I have certainly felt like a failure as I have lost cases and wondered why. As trial lawyers, we often hear the success stories about the seven-figure verdicts. It is reassuring and motivating to know that losing is not really failure and that many, many other attorneys are, or have been, in the same boat. In my opinion, this is a must-read for any trial attorney!
— Roger J. Dodd, coauthor of Cross-Examination: Science and Technique, board-certified civil trial specialist for more than twenty years, and listed inSuper Lawyers for both Florida and GeorgiaThe single most important decision factor for a lawyer in purchasing a book is this: does the time I spend reading it make me that much better, give me greater insight, and propel me to greater heights? In this case, the answers are yes, yes, and YES. I was asked to read and review the book. Sari is a trusted friend, a nonlawyer teacher who views legal issues more in line with how other nonlawyers, like jurors, view them. I was delighted to learn more from her. But this book is so skillfully presented that I am in the process of reading it a second time. This second reading is totally selfish. It is for my clients and me. This is a book for all lawyers, not just trial lawyers. Any lawyer who conducts a first interview needs the techniques revealed in this book. The skills are applicable to meeting people for the first time in a way to influence them in a positive manner. Sari describes this as a process to ‘empower and encourage’ the audience (jury) by guiding them in a way that provides safety to each and forms them into a bonded group. For more experienced lawyers, who believe we have a decent handle on what it is we do, Sari provides details and subtlety that can be learned and applied in individual trials and to individual jurors. This is where we benefit most from her more eloquent understanding that she shares with us in a form that we can efficiently use. For less experienced lawyers, well . . . I wish I’d had the opportunity decades before now.
— Randy Kinnard, member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers AssociationI’ve tried over 250 jury cases, so you could argue that I don’t need to read any more ‘how-to-do-it’ books on trial advocacy. But after reading From Hostage to Hero, I realized there is still more to learn. This book is a masterpiece on how to overcome your fear in the courtroom and help jurors to do the same. I am a better trial lawyer for having read it. Bravo to Sari de la Motte for helping trial lawyers enjoy ourselves and our work more!
— Rick Friedman, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and coauthor of Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Guide to Proving LiabilityWith this book, Sari joins the ranks of David Ball, Josh Karton, and other great nonlawyers who understand our jobs well enough to actually make a contribution to our cases and performance. Sari is a gifted teacher, and there is practical, trial-ready advice on nearly every page.
Overall rating: 4.9692307 / 5 from 130 reviews.
This book is highly regarded for its practical, trial-ready advice and invaluable insights for lawyers. Customers praise its priceless information and Sari's unique approach to jury selection. It is considered a must-read for anyone trying cases, offering a holistic guide to equipping the jury as an ally.
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"Showing your flaws is better than showing you’re fake. H2H has helped me remember to get out of my own way. I have a habit of overthinking and overcomplicating. Sari isn’t reinventing the wheel, but her book reminds me that I don’t need to reinvent the wheel either. Being “just me” is what I need to be."
"Great book. The book is known to offer a new heuristic with which to see jury selection. But it goes to the entire trial process. I found it a great, easy read. And very useful."
"Sari de la Motte's "From Hostage to Hero" is a refreshing take on jury trials, urging lawyers to view jurors as allies rather than adversaries. Filled with practical advice and real-world examples, this engaging book teaches lawyers how to connect with jurors on a human level, building trust and rapport. De la Motte's expertise in nonverbal communication adds a unique dimension, highlighting the importance of body language and tone of voice. A must-read for any trial lawyer looking to improve their advocacy skills."
"Consciously or subconsciously, trial lawyers often view the jurors as if they were crocodiles beneath a fraying rope bridge, waiting to devour our case after the defense saws through the rope. Sari shows us how to change our perspective to one in which we guide the jurors so that they can be the heroes of the story. This is a must-read for all trial lawyers."
"This book is terrifying and amazing. It will challenge you to rethink almost everything about trial - IN A GREAT WAY! This is a must read for anyone that wants to be a better trial lawyer."
"HOSTAGE TO HERO is a great guide for any trial lawyer. I read it after having practiced for 30 years and I learned a lot. Sari presents a unique approach for voir dire and opening and I can tell you , it really works. After reading her book, I also sought coaching, and Sari recommended her colleague, Jody. Jody was fabulous and showed us how to takes the principles set forth in the book and apply it to our case. We went to trial shortly thereafter, utilized the principles and got an award of $4.6M! the H2H techniques really work!"
"This was a great read."
"She's AWESOME!"
"Helped to me to achieve a not guilty verdict in my last serious felony criminal jury trial by understanding the mindset of my jurors during voir dire. I can absolutely recommend this book. You can also get immediate access to the digital copy."
"In From Hostage to Hero, Sari’s method of trial is built firmly on neuroscience with some self-exploration and self-reflection thrown in. The innovative ways Sari deals with the threats to the brain – both jurors and lawyers – are insightful and impactful. As I read, there were lightbulb moments in methodology and eerie moments that Sari had caught a glimpse of my soul in the Free Yourself First chapter. It is a trial practice changing book. This is a book that is highlighted, marked-up, setting on the corner of my desk."
“With this book, Sari joins the ranks of David Ball, Josh Karton, and other great nonlawyers who understand our jobs well enough to actually make a contribution to our cases and performance. Sari is a gifted teacher, and there is practical, trial-ready advice on nearly every page.”
—Rick Friedman, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and coauthor of Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Guide to Proving Liability
Jurors feel like hostages. They are ordinary people who desperately need you to show them how to be the fair-minded heroes your client needs. Heroism requires a choice. It’s up to you to inspire jurors to take action.
Some jurors are confused, scared, or even angry. They’ve been inconvenienced and forced to take time away from their lives in order to participate in something that some of them view as a waste of time. They don’t want to be there, and they have zero interest in you and your client’s case. Yet, they have no choice. Like it or not, they must remain.
Sari de la Motte is an expert in nonverbal intelligence who has consulted on cases with some of the top trial lawyers in the country, including members of the Inner Circle of Advocates. In From Hostage to Hero, she teaches you how to convey meaning and purpose to jurors so they’ll wake up and want to actively participate in your client’s case.
Sari offers insights and lessons that will help you create effective presentations from the hours and hours you’ve spent learning your client’s case. And she provides examples from cases she’s consulted on to demonstrate how you can start applying those lessons today. By learning how to effectively communicate your leadership, you can learn how to inspire jurors to move from being hostages who feel trapped in a room to heroes who want to help your client find justice.
Do you want the eBook and print book? After you complete your purchase of the print book you will receive a coupon code via email to purchase the eBook for $20.
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