Demonstrative Evidence Bridges Communication Styles

by Dale C. Howe

Attorneys and juries have different communication styles. Attorneys prefer to talk about the evidence, while jurors prefer to see the evidence.

A study compared visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles, which have been popular among educators for decades. (Kenneth Lopez, “The Animators at Law Attorney Communication Style Study,” 2007.)

• Visual learners remember information more accurately when they see it.
• Auditory learners remember information more accurately when they hear it.
• Kinesthetic learners remember information more accurately when they touch it.

In practical terms, seven out of twelve jurors (61%) will prefer visual learning, three will prefer kinesthetic learning (20.5%), and two will prefer auditory learning (18.5%), Attorneys who rely on auditory communication alone will be under-communicating with ten of the twelve members of the jury (81.5%). Id.

Some behaviors may give the attorney clues about the learning styles of individual jurors. Visual people generally have an upright posture and sit forward in their chair. Auditory people move their eyes from side to side as they listen. Kinesthetic people often move extremely slowly and their stomach moves in and out when they breathe. (“Neurolinguistic Programming,” Student BMJ, 2006)

The gap between the communication styles of attorneys and jury members can be filled by demonstrative evidence. Visual formats such as photos, charts, diagrams, videos, and animations, will appeal to the majority of jurors. Kinesthetic tools such as visits to locations, role playing, handling product samples, and examining scale models could be included. (Opportunities for kinesthetic learning will likely be limited for jurors because the courts have traditionally valued auditory communication and have only recently encouraged visual communication by updating audio visual equipment in the courtroom. There are few opportunities for kinesthetic jurors to write notes, recite testimony, or handle exhibits.)

Audio communication can also help bridge the gap with phrases such as, “The key points that I want us to touch upon are…”, “We can see the consequences of…”, “Imagine the surprise of…”

Fortunately, most people possess a combination of learning styles and are able to shift toward the audio, if necessary. However, in a world filled with competing messages, it is always an advantage for the attorney who is able to shift toward the learning style of the jury member.

Dale C. Howe is a Demonstrative Evidence Specialist at the law firm of Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. He develops and presents courtroom, educational, and web-based multimedia for the firm's practice areas of professional liability defense, complex commercial litigation, and labor & employment law. He has experience in a wide range of electronic media (e.g., PowerPoint, Sanction, Summation, Adobe Flash), digital images and video, and web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript). Mr. Howe is a member of the Demonstrative Evidence Specialists Association (2006-2007 Director of Membership) and publishes Visual Persuasion, an informational newsletter about Demonstrative Evidence.

Previously, Mr. Howe provided leadership training to nonprofit organizations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Haiti. He specialized in assisting plateaued and declining organizations in renewing their vision, mission, and strategy.

He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM, 1989; Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges) and Winona State University (B.S. Education, magna cum laude, 1982).

Selected Public Speaking Topics: "The Cultural Shift Supporting Collaborative Law," presented to the Collaborative Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, at the Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (sponsored by the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas), and to the Dallas Area Paralegal Association; "Visual Persuasion: Demonstrative Evidence that Informs and Transforms," presented at the LSI Learning Center, Dallas, Texas; "Meme Theory: How the Assumptions of a Culture Influence Business Strategy," presented to graduate students of Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca; Oaxaca, Mexico; "Meme Theory: How Value Systems Shape an Individual's Leadership Style," presented to leaders of nonprofit organizations in Winona, Minnesota; "Leadership in Emerging Nations," presented in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada; "Character: The Prerequisite of Leadership," presented to leaders of The Drop of Love Schools, Limbé, Haiti.