In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small describes different approaches to opening statements in a trial, outlining three common styles: dramatic, theme-oriented and sequential. He emphasizes the importance of capturing jurors' attention from the start and recommends avoiding unnecessary details, focusing on the theme and facts to keep jurors engaged. Mr. Small also cautions against making the facts fit the theme and encourages prioritizing truth and credibility to ensure the jury's attention and respect.