Digital White Papers

I L T A W H I T E P A P E R | L I T I G A T I O N A N D P R A C T I C E S U P P O R T 70 T H E S T R U G G L E I S R E A L : U S I N G T R I A L T E C H N O L O G Y W I T H M I L L E N N I A L S I N T H E J U R Y B O X Using technolo helps, in that it expedites the flow of information to a juror. This is even more true with Millennial jurors. As previously discussed, they are very impatient with very low attention spans. Yet, they are very technolo savvy and appreciate technolo. Thus, planning the technolo in an effective, but concise and expeditious way is essential for success. To address the impatient millennial juror, consider the diagram below. While a juror's interest is very high in the beginning of a trial, the comprehension is very low. As the trial progresses, the interest drops. At the same time, the comprehension goes up. The goal is to increase the comprehension of the jurors at the same time not lose their interest. Demonstrative Graphics One major change that has evolved in the last 25 years is the method, tools and appearance of demonstrative graphics. We now can create visually stimulating graphics for a fraction of the cost we did before. This is good news when presenting to a millennial jury, since you can never get too slick. Yet, there are guidelines to follow for successful presentations. First, get to the point. Slow-building graphics or taking too much time in building drama or layering facts over each other can be detrimental and can have negative effects. Remember, you are dealing with an impatient juror. Don't worry about using advanced technolo to present evidence. The goal remains to effectively build testimony in a concise manner – but there is still much leeway in creating inventive, artistic and even "fancy" exhibits. Using movement or animations is very effective, but a trial team is not aware of the generational composition of the jury until it's too late to prepare new demonstratives. If you suspect you'll have Millennials on your jury, and you're considering an animation or simulation to accompany testimony, spending the time and money is recommended. The benefit, will usually outweigh the cost and effort. Some of the more obvious tips still apply to Millennials such as minimizing text in PowerPoint slides and use efficient, compelling visuals that illustrate the point without clutter. When applicable, ensure you have cited the source that each graphic or demonstrative is based on to appease the skeptical nature of Millennials.). Generally speaking, " C R E AT I N G W I N N I N G T R I A L S T R AT E G I E S A N D G R A P H I C S " G . C . R I T T E R . A M E R I C A N B A R A S S O C I AT I O N , 2 0 0 4

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