Improv for Lawyers
Description
This class is for lawyers, paralegals, and law students who are interested in learning how improv can help them tell compelling stories.
Improvisation and storytelling go hand in hand. This is also true for the practicing lawyer. The strength of your story, both in its content and presentation, is critical. The goal of the course is to give participants the power to not only refine a story for presentation, but also how to discover that story in the first place.
The tools used in the craft of improvisation for communication and storytelling are a robust set of tools and have their place in the world beyond the improvisational comedy stage.
This class will focus on storytelling by introducing concepts of Yes/And, If/Then, Listening, Observation, Exploration Through Character, and other elements for practical application by actively engaging in improv exercises.
Outcomes:
Participants will develop improved communication skills by learning to use Yes/And, and Playing to the Top of Your Intelligence principles for lawyers to better convey their case narratives and making legal concepts more accessible to jurors.
Participants will gain the ability to set scenes and craft narratives that show rather than tell resulting in more engaging presentations.
Participants will understand the roles characters play within legal stories to create multi-dimensional characters in their presentations.
Participants will develop creative problem solving, enabling them to think on their feet and adapt to unexpected situations during case presentations.
Participants will implement the techniques learned in the course to capture the attention of jurors and create stories that make cases more memorable and persuasive.
Overall, students will leave the class with improved storytelling techniques and the ability to present legal cases in a more engaging and persuasive manner.
Dates
January 13, 20, 27, Feb 3 (Saturdays)
Times
10:00 am -12:00 pm
Location
319 S Cedar St, Spokane, WA, USA
Cost
$200
Continuing Legal Education Credits: 8
Course Schedule:
Day 1: Yes/And
Students will be introduced to the fundamental concept of YES/AND. Through various exercises, the tool of Yes/And, and the concept of Playing to the Top of Your Intelligence, will be used to discover a story by revealing fertile details from sterile facts. These concepts lay the foundation for effective communication and presentation.
Day 2: Setting a Scene
Students will be introduced to the Elements of a Story and the idea of Showing vs. Telling tailored to the legal context. Through improv exercises, students will become familiarized in identifying, and expressing story elements that enhance the impact of legal narratives.
Day 3: Characters
Students will learn the various roles characters serve in a legal story. Students will also learn the roles they take in presenting a story. They will learn how to convey nuances of legal cases through character development.
Day 4: Storytelling
Students will use the improv tools learned to practice translating a case into a story. A practical application of Story Elements, Roles to Depositions, Openings, Examinations, and Closings