Direct Examination: Making Your Witness Look Good

Experienced trial lawyers recognize that most trials are won on the strengths of their case and not on the weaknesses of their adversary's case. Direct examination that clearly and effectively presents the witness's observations through a narrative lens will have a decisive effect on the outcome of the trial. The attorney's job is to make the witness and the story she is telling interesting, compelling, and credible. Direct examination is a partnership in which one of the partners, the attorney, fades into the background so that all of the jury's attention can be on the other partner, the witness.