Using PowerPoint presentations for a trial can make or break your chances of success in the courtroom. If your PowerPoint trial presentations are captivating, persuasive and professional, they can significantly influence the direction of the case. A shoddy job, on the other hand, will leave everyone staring into space, struggling to avoid falling asleep.
Since you do not want to embarrass yourself in court, you must make sure your presentations are professional at all times. Here are a few tips that you can use to grab the attention of the judge and jury every time you put together visual presentations.
Outline the Structure of your Presentation
Outlining the structure on a piece of paper or notepad might prove to be useful, as this will save time, avoid confusion and reduce the chances of making a mistake when presenting the final copy. When writing the draft, you will be able to decide what each slide will state and you may use the outline as a reference point.
Keep It Simple
Many people make the mistake of including fancy text and using flashy images and colors. While these graphics might be captivating at first, they can quickly become distractive in the long run.
Moreover, many people do not consider fancy text and graphics as professional. It’s better to keep it simple by using very basic and professional fonts and colors such as Arial, and Verdana for your fonts and gray and blue for your background colors.
Include Important Info Only
Do not overdo it by adding unnecessary information to your slides. Maintaining only the important information is good for your case as this prevents confusion, keeps your presentation tight and reinforces your argument.
Use Good Quality Images
If you decide to use images in your PowerPoint trial presentations, make sure they are professional and of exceptional quality. You should crop or size the photos correctly to ensure they look good and without any distortions. Additionally, you should place the images correctly in your slides to achieve the desired results.
Utilize Sound and Videos
Using audio and video clips can go a long way to support your argument and reinforce your case. After all, videos, sounds and images are captivating and people like watching, listening and looking at them. Do not hesitate to include some exciting audio or video clips in your presentation if they benefit your argument.
Rehearse
After creating all your slides, it is important to practice how you will make your presentation prior to the day of the trial. Ideally, you should go over your PowerPoint presentation at least twelve times beforehand to ensure you have a good grasp of what you are going to say. Rehearsing will give you an opportunity to make any adjustments and tweak your presentation accordingly.
Complete Your Presentation
Completing your presentation is just as important as preparing for the trial itself. Make sure your slides are working and flowing smoothly to avoid any last-minute disappointments. If you need any professional help, contact a friend or an expert to help you get it done.