THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 76 | NOVEMBER 2025 Technology should serve as scaffolding, not the structure itself. The strongest impression is left not by the tools a lawyer uses but how a lawyer connects with the jurors while using them. GUIDANCE FOR LAWYERS WITH LIMITED JURY EXPERIENCE Many lawyers rarely see the inside of a jury box. For those attorneys, the following practices are especially useful: Keep a beginner’s mindset. Fewer trials can actually make you more attentive to jurors’ cues. Practice adaptability. Rehearse not only your lines but also potential pivots. Watch and listen. Jurors communicate constantly through body language and attention. Embrace imperfection. A pause or stumble can come across as authentic rather than weak. Do not let technology control you. Use it but remain present with the jurors. Reflect afterward. Study juror reactions and evaluate what worked or fell flat. CONCLUSION Few of us have the opportunity to try dozens of jury cases. That scarcity can create anxiety, but it can also sharpen our awareness. When trial comes, it is important to remember that jurors are persuaded less by rigid perfection and more by genuine engagement. Steve Embry’s reminder to be unpredictable is not an argument against preparation. It is an invitation to leave space for the human element. Prepare thoroughly, but also be ready to adjust, listen and connect. In the end, jurors decide cases not just on the facts presented but also on the advocate’s ability to meet them as people. Ms. Bays is the OBA Management Assistance Program director. Need a quick answer to a tech problem or help solving a management dilemma? Contact her at 405-416-7031, 800-522-8060 or julieb@okbar.org. It’s a free member benefit. ENDNOTE 1. Steve Embry, “Want to Be a Good Trial Lawyer? Be Unpredictable. Look out the Window. Turn Off ChatGPT,” TechLaw Crossroads (Sept. 30, 2025), www.techlawcrossroads.com.
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