David Pitre is a partner at Silbert, Pitre & Friedman, and practices in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death for accident victims and their families throughout the Gulf-South region. David is based in Gulfport, Mississippi, and has obtained some of the largest jury verdicts in several counties in the State of Mississippi.
That's why it was no surprise to see Louisiana Advocates Magazine publish his article "DIY Courtroom Tech for the Trial Lawyer". We saw it and had to talk to David. We asked him about how he uses TrialPad and got a few additional tips and tricks for our readers like you. Here are three standouts from David’s article, and our conversation:
1) DIY
When we spoke with David, he told us one key to an excellent "DIY" presentation is to truly "Do It Yourself". "When a lawyer can present the case for themselves, they are fully in control, whereas there is an inherent delay in asking someone else to bring up a particular page, and then tell them to either go to the next page, highlight a paragraph, etc." David understands this deeply from his own previous experiences in electronic trials run by trial techs, and his more recent experience watching various opposing counsels’ presentation delays. "DIY" helps David present evidence smoothly and seamlessly as he talks to witnesses, judges, and juries.
2) Software
David chooses to use TrialPad because it lets him hold his entire case on a device the size of a legal pad, and gives him the power to put up a document, zoom, callout, or annotate it as he discusses it. He also chooses TrialPad because it is straightforward and easy to use. In fact, David says using TrialPad is "effortless".
3) Equipment
David brings his own equipment to the courtroom, and uses that same equipment to practice in the office beforehand. This means he avoids the possible pitfalls of being unfamiliar with the physical presentation equipment. Bringing his own equipment means scheduling a setup time in advance, taking a look at the courtroom he’ll be in, finding the electric outlets, and testing the equipment. Some courts have equipment installed already, and plugging in and testing ahead of time is important for those courtrooms too. Even still, David always has a backup plan. Should there be an issue with built in equipment, he is ready. By being prepared, David can be assured that when it is trial time, he can focus on the art of the trial itself, with little concern for the physical technology.
While presenting your case well is an achievement, sometimes the best parts of a trial come at the end. In David’s case, the best parts often include more than the verdict he hoped for. On many occasions, judges, juries, and even opposing counsel have complimented David’s presentation style, and his seamless use of technology to present his case. He credits preparation and the right tools as key to his record verdicts.
Learn More About David Pitre, Esq.:
Firm Website: https://spflawyers.com/
Bio: https://spflawyers.com/our-attorneys/david-p-pitre/