Litigation & Appeals

4.5

Opening Statements: 8 Things You're Doing Wrong

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 1.5 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 1.5 Total
California CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 2 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Florida CLE Approved 2 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Maine CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 1.8 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Montana CLE Approved 1.5 Total
North Dakota CLE Upon Request 1.5 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 1.5 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 1.5 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 1.8 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 1.5 Total
New York CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 2 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 1.5 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Texas CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Utah CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Washington CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 1.5 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 1.8 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 1.5 Total
OnDemand
1 hours 29 minutes
Louis Cohan
With Louis R. Cohan from Cohan & Levy
Recorded November 04, 2025.
Product ID 101235

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Overview

Are You Guilty of These Mistakes?

Your opening statement is your first chance to make a lasting impression, set the tone for your case, and start building credibility. But so many trial lawyers make critical mistakes that sabotage their ability to connect, persuade, and win over the judge or jury from the very start. This guide will break down 9 common mistakes attorneys make in their opening statements and arm you with proven strategies to avoid them. Get the insights you need to create a compelling, unforgettable opening statement - register today!

  • Discover how to grab your audience's attention, hearts, and minds.
  • Trim down your opening for maximum impact without losing the essence of the case.
  • Avoid the trap of complex legal jargon and overused and empty language.
  • Find the sweet spots of how much information to introduce and how much to focus on the opponent's case.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Running With the Wrong Theme
  2. Failing to Hook and Connect With Your Audience
  3. Information Overload and Overcomplicating Things Too Early
  4. Missing the Story Element: Presenting in a Disconnected or Dry Way
  5. Not Effectively Integrating Legal Elements Into Your Narrative
  6. Over- or Under-Emphasizing the Opposing Party's Case
  7. Wrong Words: Overusing Legalese or Cliché and Empty Language
  8. The Overlooked Importance of a Strong Closing to Your Opening

Related Topics

Product ID 101235

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 1.5 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 1.5 Total
California CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 2 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Florida CLE Approved 2 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Maine CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 1.8 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Montana CLE Approved 1.5 Total
North Dakota CLE Upon Request 1.5 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 1.5 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 1.5 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 1.8 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 1.5 Total
New York CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 2 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 1.5 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Texas CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Utah CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Washington CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 1.5 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 1.8 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 1.5 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Opening Statements: 8 Things You're Doing Wrong

    1. Running With the Wrong Theme
    2. Failing to Hook and Connect With Your Audience
    3. Information Overload and Overcomplicating Things Too Early
    4. Missing the Story Element: Presenting in a Disconnected or Dry Way
    5. Not Effectively Integrating Legal Elements Into Your Narrative
    6. Over- or Under-Emphasizing the Opposing Party's Case
    7. Wrong Words: Overusing Legalese or Cliché and Empty Language
    8. The Overlooked Importance of a Strong Closing to Your Opening

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for trial attorneys. Whether you're a seasoned litigator or preparing for your first big trial, this course is your blueprint for avoiding common mistakes and delivering powerful, memorable opening statements.

Speakers

Louis R Cohan
Louis R.
Cohan
Cohan & Levy
Speaker bio
Louis R Cohan

Louis R. Cohan

Cohan & Levy
Louis Cohan

founded Cohan Law Group, L.L.C., and has been a trial lawyer for more than 30 years. He has been recognized for his trial experience by admission into the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Cohan has litigated more than $900 million in claims for his clients and recently secured a Verdict in excess of $66 million in a fraud case. He has done work in breach of contract, fraud, injunctive relief, punitive damages, employment, trade secrets, real estate, construction and construction defects, and civil rights litigation. Mr. Cohan's practice is concentrated on business litigation and employment litigation, as well as civil litigation. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Georgia and his J.D. degree from Emory School of Law. Mr. Cohan has served as chair of the Litigation Section, the largest section of the Atlanta Bar Association. He has also chaired the Small Firm section of the Atlanta Bar Association. Mr. Cohan has served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Bar Association and has chaired the Atlanta Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Atlanta Bar Association. He has received awards and recognition for his community and legal work. These awards include Super Lawyer, Legal Elite, Martindale-Hubbell's preeminent AV rating, American Board of Trial Advocates, America's Top 100 Attorneys, and the Celebrating Service Award. For many years, Mr. Cohan has chaired the Legal Run Around 5k road race, raising money for the children of injured and fallen Atlanta Police Department officers.

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