NACDL

More and more folks are using slide show programs. People typically think of PowerPoint, but many other slide show programs are available, including the venerable Corel Presentations, Google Slides, Keynote, and Prezi. There are some basic principles that can help advocates use slide show programs effectively. These are Al’s Top Ten Rules for Slide Shows. The hope is that attorneys will refer to these rules the next time they decide to use a slide show program so that their slide shows will be better. The goal is to make cross or direct examinations, opening statements, and final arguments great, using technology to help. These rules apply to all slide shows.

Rule One. Attorneys should not put every word they are going to say into slides and then read each word to the jury or the judge. Lawyers violate this rule time and time again. The result is always the worst use of a slide show program possible. The judge or jury does not need to see every word (or even most words) on screen that t