Every litigant has their "own way". We go to all kinds of seminars where top lawyers give demonstrations and then we try and copy them. We see videos of focus groups and we emulate what we've learned. None of that stuff ever worked well with me-because it wasn't me. Not that I didn't give in to the temptations. The one lesson I wished I had learned early on was from a respected homicide lawyer. He told me that if the jury likes and trusts you there will always be close calls on the evidence and more likely than not they will believe you. So in voir dire just talked to them like you just met them. Their interests, where they came from, what they like or don't like about their jobs, etc. Many attys would rather try and educate a prospective juror on the law and sway them at this early stage. But jurors are not stupid and most can see through the "salesmanship". So, if I had to do it differently again, I would just try and pick a jury that simply "liked and trusted me".
