The 'Arc' of Telling a Riveting Story in Court
  • CODE : BLIS-0001
  • Duration : 90 Minutes
  • Level : Basic
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Michael is a trial lawyer. He graduated Cum Laude from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Summa Cum Laude from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law with his Masters of Law in Taxation. Michael is known for his charismatic personality and his unyielding dedication to his clients.

Michael spent the first six years of his legal career as a public defender in the NJ Office of the Public Defender cutting his teeth on some of the most serious felony cases to pass through the state courts of New Jersey. He then joined his father's law practice, DeBlis Law, expanding the practice into civil tax controversies and international tax compliance.

As a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College, Michael has trained under some of the best-known criminal defense attorneys in the country. When he's not in the courtroom, you can find Michael on stage. He is a professionally-trained actor who has performed in off-Broadway productions and on-stage at Shakespeare in the Park. Michael's passionate about helping trial lawyers harness the power of persuasion and positive communication in the courtroom in order to connect to the jury on a human level.
Michael's training as an actor allows him to combine a unique blend of left-brain thinking with right brain artistry to make even the most dull and abstract areas of the law come to life. Michael is a prolific writer and a frequent lecturer at CLE and CPE programs throughout the country. He has written articles that have been featured in leading tax journals and "Law 360."

 Michael is a living example of the tremendous power that comes from combining passion, preparation, persuasion, and positive communication in the courtroom. His courage and relentless work ethic have earned him a reputation as a zealous advocate and one of New Jersey’s rising stars of the legal profession.

In this engaging and practical presentation, we explore how courtroom storytelling mirrors the timeless structure of classic narratives. Whether you're delivering an opening statement, examining a witness, or making a final plea to the jury, understanding how to construct and convey a compelling story is crucial.

We will explore the five essential narrative beats all great stories contain—setup, inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution—and how these can be mapped onto your case to make your argument more persuasive. We'll dive into the tempo of narrative pacing: how to slow down at key emotional moments, speed up when urgency is required, and keep jurors engaged through rhythm and tone.

Through literary analysis of masters like Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and others, we'll explore how tension is built, how characters (even your client or key witnesses) are developed, and how themes are layered subtly but powerfully. We’ll also explore the Rule of Three, a storytelling principle rooted in cognitive science, which helps make complex legal arguments more digestible and memorable.

Learning Objectives

  • Shape facts into narratives that resonate with jurors emotionally and logically
  • Use suspense and pacing to guide jury attention and maintain engagement
  • Apply literary devices such as foreshadowing, irony, and metaphor to reinforce your theory of the case
  • Structure opening and closing arguments to mirror compelling story arcs
  • Humanize clients and witnesses in ways that foster empathy and connection

This isn’t just about theatrics—it’s about delivering truth with impact.

Areas Covered

  • Story structure and narrative beats in litigation
  • Pacing and rhythm in trial storytelling
  • Application of literary devices in legal arguments
  • Building suspense and emotional resonance
  • Using archetypes and character development in client representation
  • Rhetorical repetition, the Rule of Three, and persuasive phrasing
  • Classic courtroom storytelling dos and don’ts

Who Should Attend

  • Trial Attorneys
  • Litigation Associates
  • Law Students interested in trial advocacy
  • Public Defenders and Prosecutors
  • Civil Litigators handling jury trials
  • Anyone involved in persuasive legal presentations

Why Should You Attend

In the courtroom, the most compelling argument isn’t always the one with the most evidence—it’s often the one with the best story. Jurors are human beings, not machines, and they respond to emotional logic, moral tension, and well-crafted narratives.

This webinar will equip you with the narrative tools used by the world’s most successful storytellers and show you how to apply them strategically to your next trial. You’ll learn how to connect the jury to your client’s experience on a human level—because when the story sticks, so does the verdict.

  • $160.00



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