Why I Meet with My Clients 6 Times Before Trial

This is Trial 101. I want to continue to teach other lawyers what to do and how to get better at trial.

Learn From Other Attorneys

One important thing you can do is go watch another attorney try a case.

  • You can walk into any trial — it’s open to the public.
  • Or better yet, volunteer to take notes for an experienced attorney.

By volunteering your time, you’ll learn:

  • How voir dire works
  • How the attorney handles the case from start to finish
  • What to do and, just as importantly, what not to do

A Cautionary Example

I once watched an attorney put his client on the stand.

  • The client testified about numbness in his hand and how, at night, he couldn’t pick up a glass of water due to weakness.
  • The attorney asked, “Well, what else?”
  • The client responded, “That’s it.”

This moment downplayed the severity of the injury.

To the jury, it sounded like the client had only a minor issue. The attorney clearly didn’t realize that this was actually the most important aspect of the injury.

The result? The jury thought, “That’s it? Why are we here?”

The Importance of Preparation

This is why it’s critical to:

  • Know your client
  • Spend real time with them before trial

When I prepare for trial, I meet with my client at least six times, for several hours each time.

Why? Because:

  • You can’t just meet once and say, “Don’t say this, say that.”
  • They won’t remember.
  • Without preparation, you won’t know what to ask — and they won’t know how to answer.

A Real Case Example

In a case I tried last year, I got a $5.66 million verdict.

Before trial, I drove four hours into the country to spend the day with my client.

Here’s what I discovered:

  • As he drove us to lunch, I noticed something unusual.
  • He unbuckled his seat belt, turned his body to check for traffic, pulled out of his driveway, then clicked the seat belt back on.

I was stunned. I asked:

“Why would you risk your life like that?”

He replied:
“There’s no other way I can see. I can’t turn my neck since my neck surgery.”

That detail was crucial. At trial, a family member testified about it — and it was extremely powerful for the jury.

Had I not spent that time with him, I would never have known.

Final Takeaway

Spend time with your clients.
It’s the only way to:

  • Truly understand their story
  • Prepare them for trial
  • Present the strongest case to the jury

For more videos, check out the Hensley Law Firm YouTube channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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