Tips for Lawyers Using PowerPoint in Mediations

Using PowerPoint For Mediation Presentations Tips to make the “old school” tool look new againPresented by: C. Todd Smith

Why does goodslide designmatter tolawyers?

Death by PowerPoint

Boredom“PowerPoint hell” is the tedium somepeople report on sitting throughPowerPoint visual presentations thatare too long and complex, makingexcessive use of the software’sfeatures and when the presenter justreads from the slides. Source: Wikipedia

Thingsto avoid

Beware of the template trap

 BULLETS ARE FOR GUNS NOT FOR PRESENTATIONS

Memberships andAffiliations Admitted to The Florida Bar 1994 United States District Court, Middle District of Florida Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers American Trial Lawyer Association Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association Orange County Bar Association Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer, Orlando Legal Aid Society

Cutting and Pasting Trap On June 24, 2010, Plaintiff, JANE DOE, was the operator of a motor vehicle in Seminole County, Florida that was struck from behind by a vehicle being operated by John Smith, who was at fault for the motor vehicle accident. At all material times, including June 24, 2010, John Smith was insured by United Services Automobile Association, who tendered the limits of his bodily injury liability coverage on or about March 17, 2011. SOUTHERN-OWNERS insured Plaintiff under a motor vehicle liability insurance policy, including underinsured and/or uninsured motorist coverage.

UNNECESSARY SLIDETRANSITIONS

(If you were watching this in PowerPoint you would love this awesome looking, but totally useless, transition effect.)THE “SHRED”EFFECT

(If you were watching this in PowerPoint you would love this even more awesome looking, but totally useless, transition effect.)THE “CHECKERBOARD”EFFECT

(If you were watching this in PowerPoint this transition effect would simply blow your mind.)THE “HONEYCOMB”EFFECT

Wrong Font andToo much Text “The majority of the presentations that I see have text in a ten point font. As much text as possible is jammed into the slide, and then the presenter reads it. However, as soon as the audience figures out that you’re reading the text, it reads ahead of you because it can read faster than you can speak. The result is that you and the audience are out of synch. The reason people use a small font is twofold: first, that they don’t know their material well enough; second, they think that more text is more convincing. Total bozosity. Force yourself to use no font smaller than thirty points. I guarantee it will make your presentations better because it requires you to find the most salient points and to know how to explain them well. If “thirty points,” is too dogmatic, the I offer you an algorithm: find out the age of the oldest person in your audience and divide it by two. That’s your optimal font size.” - Guy Kawasaki Read more: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2005/12/the_102030_rule.html#ixzz1dKyrGkCe

BAD CLIP ART ANDANIMATIONS

Less is more. Start yourdesign with a blank slide.

Telling the story

WHEN TELLING YOUR CLIENT’S STORY ATMEDIATION:Don’t use the slides as a crutch – you still haveto persuasively tell your client’s story.What you have to say is more interesting thanyour slides.Don’t watch your slideshow and don’t readfrom the screen which takes the focus awayfrom youYOU CONTROL THE SLIDES, DON’T LET THESLIDES CONTROL YOU.

Structuring the StoryAct I begins a story by setting up all of the key storyelements, including the setting, the main character, aconflict, and the desired outcome.Act II drives the story forward by picking up on theconflict in Act I and developing it through the actions andreactions of the main character in response to changingconditions.Act III ends the story by framing a climax and a decisionthat the main character must face to resolve thesituation. Source: Cliff Atkinson, Sociable Media

Use Pictures

Rental Units “Barn” Accident locationAccident Location – Not on the Rental Property

WARNING!DO NOT OPERATE UNLESSYOU HAVE READ ANDUNDERSTAND THEINSTRUCTIONS ANDWARNINGS IN THEOPERATION ANDMAINTENANCE MANUAL

FORKLIFT TRAINING & SAFETY MANUAL Remember that you are responsible for not only your safety, but that of your fellow workers. Know the limitations of the machine you are using. Never attempt any job that the machine is not equipped to perform.

History Of Violations 0 STAFF FOR 18 CHILDREN OBSERVED11/25/08 - A ratio of three staff for 18 children is required.

Get to know the ribbonin Office 2010

Office.com

AlwaysBePrepared

Know your room where you will beconducting the mediation.Make sure the facility has what youneed for your presentation.Always arrive early to set up.Always be prepared for the worst casescenario – no presentation (bulb issue,computer issue, etc.)

Don’t be boring.

Shortcuts:http://office.microsoft.com/en-ca/powerpoint-help/keyboard-shortcuts-for-use-while-creating-a-presentation-in-powerpoint-2010-HP010336519.aspxDeath by PowerPoint:http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/684871/Death-By-Powerpoint.htmReally bad PowerPoint – Seth Godinhttp://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/01/really_bad_powe.htmlTips:http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpoint_tips.htmlhttp://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/Portability – Office web apps:http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps?WT.mc_id=PPT_WebApp

C. Todd Smithwww.ctoddsmith.comDownload this presentation at: Slideshare.net/ctoddsmith

Tips for Lawyers Using PowerPoint in Mediations

by C Todd Smith

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