"Public Speaking" Law Bar "Career Advise"

Question

Can you give me any tips for an effective Public Speaking engagement?

Answer 1

I think you should avoid bad openings. The essential ingredient is to learn how to use the emotional effects of words, tact and diplomacy in answering complaint. Organize your thoughts and isolate your main objective.

Answer 2

PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS AND TRICKS

I tutor Public Speaking across the US in College and Law School, and coach those already into their legal career. It is one of my Wyzant Specialties.

The tips and techniques I employ can make a real difference in your presentation.

Here are just some:

(1) Slow your tempo or increase your tempo by using an online (free) metronome.

(2) Sign up for a few private singing lessons.

(2a) Many presenters warm up their voices before beginning to speak. Some even put marbles in their mouths and try their hands at emotionally laden language (like the descending pendulum chapter in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum").

(2b) Never forget the power of Biotene spray in a miniature squirt bottle.

(3) Keep virtually all paper off your podium. Paper is just a crutch that you will never need. It's like an "open book" Exam where there is no time to open the book... a favorite trap of many Professors.

(3a) If you will need water- only use bottled water and keep it rather far from your podium. If you place your bottle on your podium you have a good chance of knocking it over and the rapport you already established with your audience will quickly evaporate (just like the spilled water).

(4) Practice makes perfect- and if you are preparing for a court argument have many fellow students or colleagues pepper you with as many complex questions as possible. Many highly respected Supreme Court advocates go through hundreds of practice sessions with colleagues. Some of the practice questions should be "off the wall", so you can practice how to respond without offending.

(5) Make a running list of all Public Speaking tips you come across in your preparation for a presentation. Supplement that list for the rest of your life.

(6) Make a running career-long list of all "bon-mots" and emotive catchy phrases. Many of these come up when talking heads are on the news. If some resonate for you, then write them down for your later (though very selective) use.

(6) Learn and use PowerPoint but too many slides will put your audience to sleep. Develop just a few and be sure every slide packs a powerful punch. They should be simple- after all, they are just "bullet points". Lawyers regularly make mistakes with PowerPoint. Know how to use the feature and practice with the feature regularly. Better yet, hire a PowerPoint techie to run your audio-visual.

(6) You must know the topic better than your audience. If you don't know it, then learn the topic. And the best way to learn is to teach.

(7) Entertaining questions from the audience (or a court): This is the toughest skill of all: Engage your audience or your judge(s) in a friendly and rhythmic "conversation". No stilted speech!

(8) Do what actors do. If you make a mistake draw no attention to it and it is likely your mistake will go unnoticed. Don’t make excuses or beg for forgiveness. To point a mistake out and apologize is a disaster on several fronts. Of course, in the Courtroom you must be scrupulously accurate in what you say and promptly correct all material mistakes.

(9) Join Toastmasters in Law School or your community. Find one that specializes in Public Speaking. You will also have a chance to meet several potential clients this way.

(10) Moot Court typically demands that competitors not step away from the Podium-- boring!!! Outside of Moot Court, keep one hand on the Podium (for emotional support) and walk away but stay within the general Podium area. Never get in the audience’s face(s).

(11) Review what the better speakers do. Try to pinpoint the Skills that make some sense. Will those Skills work for you? Remember, however, that many highly credential experts are lousy speakers.