Make A Point Everyone Understands

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it’s only effective if it uses the right words.  As we have said before in this space, visual aids can be a key way to communicate information at trial.  But an infographic or visual that you think clearly communicates with jurors may not be as comprehensible as you think. Pew Research recently conducted a survey asking respondents about their knowledge on several science questions.  The list included a scatterplot graph showing the correlation between sugar consumption and decayed teeth.   Only 63 percent of Americans could read the graph correctly.  This issue became even more apparent when the data was broken down by education – only half of those with a high school education or less understood the graph.  Having a visual aid is only helpful if the jury understands it.  The majority of your jury pool isn’t likely to be composed of college graduates (where eight out of 10 could decipher the scatterplot correctly), increasing the chance your visual will fly right over their heads.  We’ve outlined some helpful tips to ensure your graphics are effective and simple to understand for all your jurors: Simplicity is Key – Limit the amount of information you include on a visual aid.  You don’t want to overwhelm your jurors with 10 different points of information on a graph where important information can get lost in the shuffle.  Instead, use just a handful of bullet points.  If you’re using a graph to illustrate a relationship, limit it to a relationship between two or three points.   Highlight the Main Point of the Graphic – Outlining a specific bar in a bar chart or using a different color for a particular point in a timeline will help to place your point in the context of the whole story, allowing jurors to focus on your message. Explain Your Visual Aid – It may seem obvious to some, but you’d be surprised at the presentations we’ve seen where speakers leave their chart open to interpretation.  Clearly explain what each aspect of the visual aid means and how it relates to your overall story. Plan Your Presentation Without Graphics – Not only is this helpful in case technology goes awry in the courtroom, but it also sets the precedent that your visual aids are there to enhance your message, not tell it for you.  Write your presentation without the use of the graphic and see if it still makes sense. Getting a message across during trial can seem difficult, but the use of effective visual aids can help, especially if everyone on your jury can understand them.  If you would like help developing clear and effective trial demonstratives, please contact Senior Vice President Claire Luna and 714.754.1010 or cluna@juryimpact.net