Dallas Texas Lawyer Trial Law

Recap: Kent Krabill

The power of storytelling in trial law is the subject of an article by Law & Crime, featuring Kent Krabill, a Dallas Texas trial lawyer who believes that the attorney with the most compelling story is likely to win. He explains that storytelling is essential in creating context, and by virtue of its strength in convincing, it can sway a jury to accept one attorney’s version of the facts over another. Krabill explains that the key to winning is resonating with the “fact finder” in the case, and that the more relatable a juror (or judge) finds a case narrative to their own experiences, the more likely they are to decide in your favor.

In trial law, storytelling is grounded in facts, with the main function of creating a connection and building context. A case narrative must present listeners with a story arc that draws them to reach a conclusion. If the lawyer has done their job, the conclusion the jury reaches is the one their story advocated. While storytelling can be learned, only some attorneys are adept at weaving the available evidence into an effective narrative that engages a jury’s logical minds and emotions.

The article also notes that during the jury selection process, smart litigators look for jurors whose personal narratives align with their case narratives. The jurors’ worldviews are likely to inform their verdicts. Psychological research suggests that our brains are predisposed to making quick, intuitive decisions based on feelings and impressions, rather than slow, analytical, statistical decisions. Even when judges instruct jurors to keep an open mind until they have heard all of the evidence, most jurors still rush to judgment. They begin telling stories about a case that reflects their own life experiences early in a trial during the opening statements.

Krabill explains that while storytelling can be learned, the best legal storytellers excel at creating dramatic tension—the sense of building toward an inevitable climax. The most effective storytellers, and regular storytellers, must create a logical path and provide juries with evidence that moves their cases in a steady direction with a consistent flow. The article concludes by noting that the most important aspect of storytelling is that the story must resonate with the fact-finder in the case, whether it’s the judge or jury. When they can see the truth emanate, the verdict is likely to go in favor of the lawyer with the most compelling narrative.