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Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling summary

Name: Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling
Rating: 3.9 (138 reviews)
Author: Jonathan Shapiro

Jonathan Shapiro

Using Stories to Advocate, Influence, and Persuade

3.9 (138 ratings)

13 mins

Brief summary

"Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling" by Jonathan Shapiro explores the power of storytelling in the legal profession. It provides insight into the tactics lawyers use to persuade juries, along with cautionary tales of how this power can be abused.

Topics

Manipulation Persuasion

Table of Contents

Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling
Summary of 6 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 6

What’s in it for me? Get the tricks and tools for telling winning stories.

If you’ve ever watched one of the numerous TV shows about lawyers and trial cases, like Law & Order, Boston Practice or Ally McBeal, you’ll know that the law is a wellspring of plotlines. But have you ever paid attention to the stories the lawyers in those shows tell to win their cases?

Writing a successful TV series and winning a case in court have more in common than one might think. They are both about winning over an audience, be it a jury or TV viewers.

Here we will gain insights from a lawyer who is also a TV writer. We will get the tricks of both trades and learn how to tell stories to both laypeople and law-people.

You’ll also learn

what the rhetoric triangle is;
why just telling a story with emotion isn’t enough; and
how to use logic in three steps to make a winning argument.

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.

By incorporating a few techniques from the ancient Greeks, any lawyer can be a great storyteller.

The roots of modern storytelling reach all the way back to ancient Greece and the works of the seminal philosopher, Aristotle.

Aristotle was the first to identify the three key elements of convincing storytelling: ethos, logos and pathos, which, in English, translate to credibility, logic and emotion.

There are three ways you can infuse your story with logic and truthfulness.

Any lawyer can find an expert witness able to provide fake credibility; logic, on the other hand, is impossible to fake.

You can think of logic as the bedrock of truth – a foundation on which you can build an unimpeachable narrative. There are three steps to building this foundation.

Emotion is the final ingredient to a compelling story.

While emotion is a crucial element to every story, today’s public figures have shown that it can easily be overused.

This is especially the case for politicians, who have grown to rely too much on the emotional factor when trying to connect with their constituents. As a result, their messages are often a jumbled mess of feelings unsupported by logic.

Once a lawyer has a persuasive story, it’s time to convert it into a performance.

Thinking of your case as a movie can be helpful in many ways.

First, you want to come up with the kind of convincing story that audiences will identify with. Then, you want to turn that story into a script. After that, you can find the actors to bring your story to life.

The Final Summary

The key message in this book:

The best way to persuade audiences is not with legalistic mumbo-jumbo. It’s far better to tell a story that adheres to the principles laid out in the Aristotelian rhetorical triangle. By combining, ethos, logos and pathos – credibility, logic and emotion – lawyers can create compelling narratives that are sure to convince both jurors and prospective clients.

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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

Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling Review

Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling (2014) explores the power of storytelling in the legal field and why it matters. Here's why this book is worth reading:

It reveals the strategic techniques used by lawyers to shape narratives and influence juries, providing fascinating insights into the art of persuasion.
With real-life case studies and courtroom stories, the book offers a compelling look into the world of law, making it an interesting read for both legal professionals and non-lawyers.
The author's deep understanding of storytelling and the law creates a unique perspective that challenges conventional thinking and stimulates critical thought.

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

About the Author

Jonathan Shapiro, Hollywood screenwriter, journalist and practicing attorney, is a jack of many trades. His writing credits for television include many popular legal shows such as The Blacklist, Boston Legal and The Practice.

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