Litigation Support Graphics

The following are tools, solutions, tips, tricks, secrets, and best practices for litigation support professionals. Be sure to share this page with your colleagues so they can benefit from them as well.

Litigation Support Web Resources

The Influence of Graphics in Litigation Support
People think using pictures. Before we can talk, we learn through seeing and responding to our surroundings. Dr. Lynell Burmark, Ph.D. Associate at the Thornburg Center for Professional Development and author of several books and papers on visual literacy, asserted that ideas and concepts not associated with an image are harder to process by our long-term memory. In short, words are processed by short-term memory, and images are immediately tucked away in our long-term memory. If this assertion is correct (and many other researchers have proven so), then using visuals for trial support will help the jury and judge better retain and understand information that can be complex, especially if they are unfamiliar with the subject matter or you are describing a detailed crime scene. Consider the following:

• In the Boston Globe article, "Courtroom Graphics Come of Cyber-Age," author Sacha Pfeiffer found that "new technologies—and a new willingness in legal circles to embrace them—have taken the use of visual images in the courtroom to a level unimaginable even a decade ago. The result is a slow but significant shift in the way many trial lawyers, who historically have relied largely on their verbal skills to sway juries, try cases ... More prosecutors see high-tech graphics not as a luxury, but as a necessity."
• "The days when lawyers could go to court with just a manila folder, a blackboard and chalk, or a marker and a big drawing pad are gone, [Attorney] Letro says. Now, you try not to let the other side have better courtroom graphics than you." ("For Some Lawyer's Presentations, Image Is Everything," Wall Street Journal [February 1, 2000])
• Research at the 3M Corporation concluded that we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.
• According to Dale Carnegies Training, graphics allow the audience to follow at their own speed because visuals accommodate all learning styles.
• It took 40% less time to explain complex ideas with graphics. (Wharton School study)
• Graphics improved retention by 38%. (Harvard University study)

This does not mean that graphic communication is better than text. However, the combination of graphics and words has a communicative power that neither singularly possesses. J.R. Levin said it best in A Transfer of Appropriate Process Perspective of Pictures in Prose: "Pictures interact with text to produce levels of comprehension and memory that can exceed what is produced by text alone."

Creating Litigation Support Graphics
When creating graphics, ask yourself the following:

• What is the most important idea or concept this graphic should relate? Does it coincide with your position and/or argument?
• Who is your audience? Would they understand specific terms or prefer an overview?
• How do you want to say it? What form of chart (area chart, illustration, timeline, etc.) will best reach your audience and help them to understand the idea/concept?

Seven Rules for Creating Litigation Support Graphics

1. All graphics should play a specific role and have a reason for being chosen and incorporated.
2. Stay consistent.
3. Show or say it correctly. Don't try to be original.
4. Keep it clean and simple. Too much visual clutter can be overwhelming and lose the primary objective of your message.
5. Label elements directly to avoid confusion. This rule is especially true if you are introducing new image and ideas.
6. Use recognizable imagery.
7. Focus on your audience. Make it easier for your audience to relate to the events and/or subject matter.

Consistency throughout your communication materials is the main reason to create a template for your litigation presentations and maintain a database of graphics. You don't want your audience wondering why certain slides in a presentation are colored differently (if there's no reason) or why different illustrations are used to explain the same concept. These differences will distract from your argument/position.

To maintain a database of litigation graphics and graphics associated with your law firm, consider the following:

• On your server create a folder specifically for graphics (primarily photographs, illustrations, charts, and logos).
• Create subfolders for each graphic type (i.e., Photos of Evidence, Illustrations Concerning Patent Disputes, Corporate Logos, Photos for Website).
• Inform everyone in your organization of the availability of these images.
• Create a standards guide to inform your associates when, where, and how they can use these graphics. Include the following:
  • Photo or illustration size limitations
  • Colors
  • Type of communications in which to use the graphics
  • Logo guides for size, colors, and style
  • Stationery guidelines for your corporation to ensure all materials representing your firm are consistent

To create a template for litigation and corporate presentations, use the following guide. Open a blank document and populate it with this information:

• Title slide template
• Background templates (be sure to include all versions for different sections or larger titles)
• Colors
  • Primary color
  • Secondary color
  • Tertiary color
  • Color palette of boxes tinted with your chosen colors
• Font and text styles
  • Font style
  • Font size (For graphics, use at least 12 pt. for best visibility when projected on a screen)
  • Font color
  • Bullet styles
  • Labeling styles
• Box styles (different boxes for org charts, flow charts, benefits boxes, etc.)
• Arrow styles
• Line style (width and color)
• Logos for your firm or clients.
• Samples of graphic icons/photos used in other graphics (e.g., blue cylinder equals main database)
• Samples of graphic styles (area charts, bar charts, etc., used within the presentation)

Litigation Support Graphic Solutions
You need a winning case. Unfortunately, you have to make it happen with very little time. You know you need your case to look great, communicate complex information, and leave the best impression. You know you need high-quality, powerful graphics. What do you do? Great news, you have a choice:

1. Do-it-yourself graphics guide
2. Ready-to-go graphics on DVD
3. Graphic how-to training
4. Fast Class seminars (1 hour quick classes)
5. Graphic library

Legal professionals use Billion Dollar Graphics solutions to help conceptualize graphics that help them win their cases. Professionals like you use the easy-to-learn process to turn their ideas and words into clear, communicative, compelling:

• Presentation graphics
• Charts, graphs & timelines (information graphics)
  • Pie charts
  • Bar charts
  • Area charts
  • Gantt charts
  • Before and after charts
  • Cutaway diagrams
  • Exploded diagrams
• Multimedia graphics
• Patent infringement graphics
• Medical graphics
• Process graphics
• Time lapse graphics
• Accident and crime scene graphics
• Any visual solution needed

"I've read thousands of dollars worth of books on how to develop graphics...this is far and away the best resource I've ever seen—full of step-by-step instructions and how-to tips that will immediately improve the quality of your work—whether this is your first graphics project or your thousandth."—Beth Wingate, Proposal Center Director

Don’t waste anymore of your energy, money, and time over explaining ideas and getting nowhere. Help your audience better absorb your solutions, concepts, data, processes, and ideas. Influence and motivate your audience to take action. Use these books and learn to quickly communicate your ideas effectively. (Learn more about the book.)

Kick start or add to your existing graphics library. The Billion Dollar Graphics Master Collection DVD contains 111 editable graphics (Illustrator and Photoshop CS2 or better for Mac and PC).

"I have already used some of the ideas and graphics [from the DVD] in a couple of presentations I am doing for a current customer. You have a unique service."—Mike Kester, Program Manager, Lockheed Martin

All graphics are professionally conceptualized and rendered at print resolution. (Learn more about the DVD.)

Billion Dollar Graphics training/workshops will show you how to use visual communication to reach your goals. The training is applicable to anyone who needs to communicate information for a desired result. Visual communication training will help you and your firm succeed. (Learn more about the Training and Workshops.)

"The class was a real eye-opener."—Adam Bramm, Proposal Coordinator

Custom Solutions for Legal Professionals
Your challenges are unique. Perhaps your goal is to increase the quality of your visuals or analyze your existing process and develop a better system for generating clear, communicative, compelling graphics. Allow Billion Dollar Graphics to be of service. We are available for consultation. (Learn more about custom solutions.)

Litigation Support Design Services with Resonant Media
Billion Dollar Graphics and Resonant Media work together to provide:

• Litigation support graphic production (conceptualization and rendering)
• Trial support

(Learn more about Resonant Media.)

Click on the solutions below to purchase...

Billion Dollar Business Graphics Book + Free Virtual CD ($49.95) More Information

Get More. Save BIG! Save money, get more books, and hit your goals faster. Put a copy on everyone's desk and watch your success rate grow exponentially. (All books include the FREE Virtual CD.)

BDG Master Collection ($549) FREE Book + 111 ready-to-use, editable business graphics + 41 bonus graphics + FREE tools and resources on DVD. Only $4.95 per graphic. More Information

Is the BDG Master Collection for your company or organization? Choose the best option for you: Single License = source art installed on one computer $549 Limited Site License = source art installed on up to 5 computers (per site) $749 Unlimited Site License = source art installed on unlimited computers (per site) $949

BDG Spectacular PowerPoint Templates DVD ($39.95) More Information

Click here to download a fax order form, if you have a PO# or prefer not to order online.

Conceptualization Training and Workshops

Graphic Conceptualization Online Training (coming soon)

Custom Solutions for Litigation Support Professionals

Resonant Media Design Services (through Resonant Media)

Fast Class Seminars