The SlideDeck is available here
Software & Equipment
- Casemap – Case organizing software from Lexis/Nexis that allows comprehensive sorting, filtering and tagging of case facts, issues and documents.
- TextMap – Deposition management software from Lexis/Nexis that allows easy organization of depositions, and ability to quickly send sourced testimony to Casemap.
- Timemap – Timeline creation software from Lexis/Nexis that allows quick output from Casemap to create visual timelines.
- BeeDocs Timeline 3D – Mac based software for creating stunning 3D timelines
- Apple iPad – You need the 2nd generation or later to do wireless presentations (see below equipment that is required to do wireless presentations). The 16 GB model is sufficient, but we recommend the 32 GB model if you can spare the extra $100.
- iPad in One Hour for Litigators – ABA publication by attorney Tom Mighell, covers best apps and tools for using the iPad in litigation. Also includes a list of all law related apps, grouped by state.
- TranscriptPad ($89) – This is the iPad app discussed that allows you to organize and manage deposition transcripts.
- TrialPad – ($89) – This iPad app was discussed in the program, and recommended because it’s easy to use for trial display (and less expensive than Sanction or Trial Director).
- Epson PowerLite HD Projector – This is the projector we use for our presentations. It had great reviews at Amazon (4.4 stars), and has proven to be a reliable workhorse. Every law firm should own its own projector, especially if the lawyers want to get adept at trial presentation. Even if you’re going to hire someone to do your trial presentations you still need to practice. Having a projector is now indispensable, and if you’re going to get one you should get one that’s reliable and puts out a lot of light.
- Epson Duet 80″ Screen – configurable for 4×3 or 16×9 aspect ratio. Portable, versatile, and solid.
- AppleTV (newer model) – if you want to wirelessly connect your iPad (or iPhone) to your projector then this is a critical piece of the puzzle. You’ll also need to set up a local wireless network, and you’d do that with the Apple Airport Express ($99), or with a MiFi card or Broadband card (available from AT&T, Sprint or Verizon for a small fee and then about $20/month).
- Apple Keynote – if you own a Mac computer then you should be using Keynote, and not Powerpoint. Keynote has better themes and transitions, and makes it easy to create well designed presentations.
- Tutorial on Apple Keynote – only $4.99 but a comprehensive video that will teach you how to get the most out of your Keynote software.
- AirParrot – software that allows you to project wirelessly from your computer (works with Mac or PCs)
Written Materials
Below are some of the best books to learn the important information processing and “visual grammar” principles that you should be aware of. Some of these are available in electronic form. However, for the design books it’s best to get them in print form because the display is not good in the Amazon Kindle version (the Apple iBook versions are acceptable, but still less preferable).
1. Cognition & Information Processing Principles
- Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, John Medina
- Brain Rules for CLE Presentations (blog post), Ernie Svenson
- Information Anxiety, Richard Saul Wurman (a very helpful book for people who manage information – e.g. lawyers)
- Future Shock, Alvin Toffler (no longer essential to read; but interesting nevertheless).
2. Developing “Visual Thinking”
- The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures, Dan Roam
- Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work, Dan Roam
- Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative, Edward Tufte – the John Gotti spreadsheet, and Shuttle Challenger examples were taken from this book.
- Beautiful Evidence, Edward Tufte
3. Presentation Principles
- Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery, Garr Reynolds (Buy this book first, and read it often)
- slide:ology, Nancy Duarte (Great book to learn how to build a visual presentation from scratch; also explains design principles)
- Really Bad Powerpoint (free web post), Seth Godin
- Nine Steps to Powerpoint Magic (free web post), Seth Godin
- Powerpoint makes us stupid – these bullets can kill (free web post), Seth Godin
- Mac PowerUsers podcast on Keynote, David Sparks & Katie Floyd (two practicing attorneys who use Macs discuss how to prepare and give presentations using Apple’s Keynote program)
- The Articulate Advocate, Brian Johnson and Marsha Hunter – Soup to nuts practical guidance on how to deliver a talk, or how to speak in court. These are the things that veteran actors learn, and which lawyers should be taught as well, but for some reason never are.
4. Examples of Visuals (to learn from)
- Movie: Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore (assisted by Nancy Duarte) – put aside politics and just study how visuals are used to support an argument; this is a Master Class conducted by Nancy Duarte, who crafted all of the visuals that Al Gore uses.
5. Online resources
- iPhoneJd.com – site by commercial litigator in New Orleans large firm that focuses on use of iPhones and iPads by lawyers
- Litig8R Tech – site focuses on litigation technology. Check out the article listing top Litigation Apps for iPhone or iPads.
- Facebook subpoenas – Ernie Svenson’s blog post about what Facebook will give you and how to get it.