Win Your Trial with the Opening Statement

The opening statement is a critical part of any jury trial. Many lawyers believe that a case can be won in the opening statement. While this claim has been met with some skepticism in empirical research, the consensus is that attorneys may not be able to “win” in the opening statement, but they can certainly lose their case if they fail to make a strong impression.

This course will discuss the law related to opening statements. Participants will go in-depth on the purpose, structure, and presentation of opening statements. In addition, attendees will learn about the ever-evolving thoughts on effective opening statements, including how to persuade without arguing in an opening statement.

This program is designed for attorneys at all levels who want to learn techniques that will enhance their trial skills, particularly in relation to opening statements.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the purpose of the opening statement.
2. Prepare for the opening statement.
3. Create an opening statement using the “story method.” 
4. Persuade without arguing.
5. Navigate how to deal with “bad facts”.
6. Utilize visual aids in the opening statement.
7. Recognize the dos and don’ts of opening statements.

Course Time Schedule:

Eastern Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Central Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Mountain Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Pacific Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Alaska Time: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

This course is also being presented on the following dates:

Thursday, February 19, 2026
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Thursday, June 4, 2026