Wheel of Fortune: Effective Voir Dire Strategies

SPONSORED BY IMS CONSULTING AND EXPERT SERVICES

Trial lawyers consider voir dire to be one of the most critical (and fun) parts of any trial. Voir dire presents the first chance to make an impression on the jury and advocate on the client’s behalf. Effective trial lawyers, however, know that voir dire is about much more than picking the jury. Making first impressions, connecting with the jury, presenting the theories of the case, and educating the jury on relevant legal concepts are all part of the process. During this session, a panel of experienced trial lawyers will explore voir dire strategies, tactics, and ethical issues in a dynamic and engaging format featuring audience participation and panel discussions. Panelists will take turns playing the role of counsel and the court, directing their questions to the prospective “jurors” in the audience. The panel will explore using voir dire to develop challenges for cause, the attorney’s duty of candor to the court, juror bias, rehabilitating jurors after potentially harmful admissions, meeting the duty to zealously advocate for clients during voir dire, and several ethical considerations. The panel’s questions will cover numerous practice areas to benefit all members in attendance and do so in a manner engaging for lawyers and non-lawyers alike.

The panel will explore numerous areas, including:

• Whether to “Facebook” the jury and ethical pitfalls of using social media to research a jury;
  
• Developing a record to win motions to strike for cause;
  
• Using jurors to argue for you; and
  
• When to object and protecting against efforts to “poison” the jury