In 2002 political advisers James Carville and Paul Begala published a book they entitled “Buck up, Suck up… And Come Back When You Foul Up.” Although dated in terms of its publication, most of the observations they make that relate to communication and persuasion are as relevant today as they were when they wrote it. While the book is intended as advice for politics and politicians, the fundamentals they discuss apply directly to trial work. Here are a few of…
Netflix has a new program featuring David Letterman interviewing prominent people, “My Next Guest Is”. https://www.netflix.com/title/80209096 I watched the interview with President. Barack Obama and was struck by the contrast of communication skills between the interviewer, David Letterman, and the guest. Obama is an extraordinarily gifted communicator. He is poised, self-confident and has impeccable timing with the gift of articulate communication. Trial lawyers should study him as a model for improved communication skills. Letterman presented a distracting interviewer from my…
Dr. Frank Luntz is a nationally known communication expert and an adviser to the Republican Party. His book Words that Work was an encyclopedia of the importance oof framing and the words we used to present issues. His book Win: The Key Principles to Take Your Business From Ordinary to Extraordinary also has communication principles which are applicable to us in our trial work. Here are a few of them for your consideration: adversity: Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz has said “I don’t…