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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling summary
Jonathan Shapiro
Using Stories to Advocate, Influence, and Persuade
13 mins
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Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Storytelling, though not taught in law school, is one of the most important skills a lawyer can have.
To be an effective lawyer, you need to be able to convince a judge or jury to see things the way you see them. The best lawyers do this by crafting a compelling narrative, thereby winning over jurors and judges and helping to establish trust with their clients.
But crafting a stellar narrative requires good storytelling skills. So, let’s look at how a lawyer can transform their case into a great story.
Let’s start at the beginning: When a lawyer first takes a case, it is her responsibility to study, analyze and understand every piece of evidence she can get her hands on. These pieces are the building blocks of the narrative.
The details of the evidence supply the characters, motivations, actions and conflict that form the plot and lead to a resolution.
Furthermore, having a solid understanding of storytelling won’t just benefit the delivery of your argument in court; it can also help you acquire clients and even convince your boss to give you a promotion.
Despite its manifest benefits, the art of storytelling gets short shrift in law schools. In fact, there isn’t one course in today’s curriculum that teaches anything about storytelling.
Instead, students learn about legal writing and research skills – dry, technical tasks that require no creativity.
In short, it’s usually up to the lawyers themselves to supplement their law school education and learn about the skills that will allow them to weave compelling stories.
The blinks ahead will explore these skills, starting with a look at the genesis of the ancient art of storytelling.
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What is Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling about?
Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling (2016) reveals the unexpected relationship between screenwriting and the art of presenting a legal case. These are two disciplines that both rely on great storytelling skills and effective rhetoric. So with the aid of real-life examples and tips people in television and film, you’ll find out how you can use the art of storytelling to craft compelling cases that will keep the courtroom riveted.
This is a Blinkist staff pick
“I love all the quirks and oddities of human behavior showcased in these blinks, they make for great conversation!”
– Ben H, Head of Editorial at Blinkist
Who should read Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling?
- Lawyers looking to up their storytelling game
- Anyone wanting to uncover how successful lawyers win cases
- Budding public speakers interested in the art of rhetoric
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