Over the past few years, PowerPoint has become an
important litigation tool. It is being used increasingly to support and
reinforce necessarily long-winded arguments, as well as to present
charts and graphics to decision-makers without the bulk of flip charts
and oversized storyboards.
In the article
Creating Visual Aids That Really, written by Executive Communications Group, Inc, the various uses
of PowerPoint are outlined, as well as tips for maximizing the benefits
of electronic presentations. The article covers the dos and don’ts of
using colors, fonts, text size and graphics with a focus on the desired
end-result of providing listeners with “at-a-glance” comprehension that
supports the argument at hand. The article also explains how PowerPoint
presentations can be misused, ultimately distracting listeners from the
important parts of the presentation and escalating confusion.
As experienced legal-graphic designers, the staff at
Teplow Cucurullo recognizes the importance of PowerPoint, especially in
class-action lawsuits, intellectual property cases and any other
situations where the argument can get densely convoluted with technical
terms or hard-to-explain events. Because it can include both textual
slides, visual slides and animated slides, PowerPoint is a key tool for
any litigator to use in his/her case.
While PowerPoint slides can expound upon key words
and present your audience with graphics to foster retention and
understanding, it should not be the only tool in which your case
revolves around…YOU should be the tool in which your case revolves
around. Using PowerPoint as a support tool for your voice modulations
and body language will impact your listeners in three ways; audibly,
visually and kinetically.
to learn more about the potential
benefits of using PowerPoint in your legal case. Remember, though, that
while the benefits of using PowerPoint are clear, how to design the
actual presentation is not. To make maximum impact on your
decision-makers, you should hire a graphic designer with PowerPoint and
legal experience. That way you can rest assured that the important
points you need to make come across loud and clear, but in an
aesthetically pleasing and creative
way.