As trial lawyers, it's important to remind ourselves about our goals for preparation for any case event. Even when that person has been deposed before or they've been to a hearing before, it's still best that we provide them with a roadmap.

First, make sure to teach them about what the whole event is and how it fits into the case. Then talk about what they can expect and correct any bad expectations if they have any. Ultimately, you want to gear them up for their role.

Either way, it's a give-and-take conversation. Otherwise, people will hold on to misinformation or misconception that causes confusion, and sometimes anger when it doesn't go the way they think it's supposed to. The last thing you want to do with any client is to shut them down.

In this episode, I'm going to discuss the things that we could be doing, whether consciously or subconsciously, that can shut people down – and some ways we could do better as trial lawyers.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How to avoid interrupting people
• Why client comparison shuts down a client
• Things to consider when using yourself as an example

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Supporting Resources:

If you have questions or a particularly challenging client preparation, email Elizabeth directly for assistance: [email protected].

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know I sent you.