If you’ve watched enough legal television – from Suits to Judge Judy – you might consider yourself an expert in what makes a good legal case. Our screens are full of exciting trials with twists, turns, and unexpected outcomes. Some are based on real-life events, and some entirely fictional, but they all share gripping storylines and revelations. However, after watching all these cases, can you say what elements make a perfect case to take to court? The most watertight legal case will have lots of elements all working together to prove a certain truth beyond doubt, some of which are listed below.
Strong physical evidence
Evidence evidence evidence. How many times has the climax of a dramatic court case onscreen hinged on a dramatic new piece of evidence? We all know that evidence is the king of court cases, and yet evidence comes in many forms. DNA is often used as incontrovertible proof – but actually it often needs supporting evidence to prove that someone actually did something, as opposed to simply being in the same location as a crime. Physical evidence is always vital to building a strong case, particularly several strands of evidence that all link together in a coherent way.
A good lawyer
There’s a reason why legal proceedings make such good TV. Apart from the drama of potential outcomes, they also rely on telling a good story. Good lawyers know how to weave evidence into a compelling story that will win over a jury. Without that narrative, it’s all just a series of facts and figures that can be hard for people to make judgments on. Great lawyers are all-round businesses with specialisms and track records that speak for themselves. Given this, if you’re a lawyer with this kind of expertise, it’s important to let potential clients know they can trust you through PR firms such as Elitelawyermanagement.com – and know that you can represent solid evidence in a convincing and compelling way.
Trustworthy witnesses
Witnesses can be slippery creatures. In TV dramas, witnesses are often a central part of the plot. Sometimes they lie, sometimes they change their minds and testify in opposition to what they’ve agreed, and sometimes they refuse to show up at all. Of course, if you’re thinking about your own court case, you’d rather the witnesses weren’t that exciting! The best witnesses are reliable, trustworthy folk who can either provide character descriptions from their experience of the claimants or who have clear memories of events that are backed up by proof of dates, times, and facts.
Sympathetic story
Strong evidence, clear witnesses, and a good lawyer all work together to create one thing; a sympathetic story. Jurors are required to be as objective as possible during court cases, but particularly in criminal law, an emotive element will come into play whether we like it or not. It’s simply impossible to avoid without using robots instead of humans. The strongest court cases will not try to disregard this, but work alongside it and appeal to the better judgment and sympathies of the jurors when they make their final decisions.
