HLP Integration’s approach to a complex litigation is to create a qualified team to support your case type. We balance this need with cost considerations and a unique business model that has been proven to be seamless and effective across myriad cases and matters. Our extensive experience allows us to anticipate problems and address them in a proactive manner, thereby allowing the legal team to focus solely on trial preparation.
Multi-Disciplined
HLP Integration understands the many variances of litigation require multiple presentation disciplines. In complex litigation, trial strategy should include a carefully selected mix of presentation tools. There are many factors that affect which presentation tools should be utilized. The audience, the type of evidence and even the length of the case can influence our recommendations. We offer a vast array of options that can be generally described as visual graphics and trial technology. We assist the team in determining which combination of these disciplines is best suited for their case.
Graphics Consultation
Our creative consultants and art directors help identify key concepts within the case to describe the client’s story visually and clearly. These demonstrative evidence experts typically participate in strategy sessions with the trial team and take the important first step of looking at the case from the attorney’s perspective to develop case themes that can be displayed graphically to the fact finder. These sessions help us design an accurate, intuitive, and informative presentation.
There are numerous ways to present a concept with graphics. All that is required for a simple concept is a static board or PowerPoint slide. A more sophistic concept may require an animation or an interactive timeline.
Technology Consultation
The trial technology consultant assists the attorney in make the presentation of evidence more persuasive through creative and strategic uses of technology. They assist with bridging the gap between the attorney’s concept and the technology while minimizing the extra time this may require. The second important role for the consultant is to coordinate the evidentiary elements of a case. This person has to organize the data to be used at trial such as the exhibits, deposition transcripts, videotaped depositions, deposition excerpts, and graphics. Another is specifying, acquiring, and coordinating the equipment and its installation for the courtroom and war room. During lengthy and complex cases, the consultant may assume a manager’s role and coordinate personnel.
Graphic Design
The first step in the trial consulting process is to conceptually frame the case and develop themes that can be displayed graphically to the fact finder. We does this through what is called a “concept report”. It takes the form of a list of case themes and how they can be developed though demonstrative exhibits. The report
is reviewed by the attorneys to provide direction and prioritization for graphic development. As the case progresses through hearings, motions, etc., this report becomes an efficient roadmap for direction and cost savings for the client under legal guidance.
Whether incorporated as a graphic board, a timeline, or an interactive presentation, graphics can tie your entire case together. Graphics can be electronic charts, animations, video, static designs, illustrations, diagrams or display boards. We ensure all of our work is designed to illustrate the ideas and concepts we discussed during the strategy sessions.
Graphics in Motion
The artists use graphics with motion to augment a static presentation making charts, diagrams, and time-lines more dynamic. This makes even the most complicated and detailed information understandable and persuasive to the fact finder.
Motion graphics are generally simple animations that are part of a static graphic. The most commonly used motion graphic is a document tear out move similar to what is seen in the TV news. They can be done on the fly or animated beforehand.
Motion graphics are relatively quick and inexpensive ways to add interest to static graphics. The artists utilize motion graphics to enhance your visual presentation, focusing the fact finder by bringing motion to otherwise dormant charts, diagrams, and timelines. In this way, even the most complicated and detailed information becomes memorable, understandable and persuasive to the fact finder.
Interactive Presentations
An interactive presentation is an effective tool for both education and persuasion. An interactive presentation is a self-contained presentation that gives the user the ability to link to another object such a document. It gives the user non-linear access to objects to compensate for the dynamics of litigation.
The design team will work with you and your experts to create an outline, develop a storyboard, produce the design and create the program. The artists can develop a simple or complex interactive presentation. For example, a time line can be an interactive presentation with events on the time line linked to documents, picture or video designations.
Printing & Copying
HLP provides 24/7 capabilities onsite and offsite. (Please contact us for further details.)
The War Room
Most cases utilize a war room. These war rooms need to offer the same capabilities as counsel’s home office, plus video editing, electronic trial presentation preparation, and witness preparation. If the war room is not at the client’s offices, we can provide the equipment necessary for these services. Essential trial presentation equipment would include a duplicate computer system as is provided in the courtroom, a printer and a scanner. Optional equipment could include a projector or monitor for witness preparation.
If a database has been created for the case, it should be brought to the war room for research purposes. We recommend preparing a separate presentation database in TrialDirector for the presentation of the exhibits.
Typically, on-site war room activities begin one week prior to trial. A full time war room trial technologist can:
- Network the war room and set up the equipment
- Load the exhibits, digitized video, graphics, and other files that may be used in court
- Prepare the clips from the digital videotaped depositions
- Set-up a scanning system
- Practice presentations with witnesses and attorneys
- Prepare the documents and excerpts to accompany the attorneys’ trial outline.
- Prepare for opening
- Orient the attorneys to the system’s capabilities
- Create or modify graphics
We can staff the war room with a graphic artist. A graphic artist can create demonstratives, assist with strategy, create or modify animations. Alternatively, an artist can be available to create exhibits remotely and work with someone onsite eliminating the need for two people in the war room.
Courtroom Requirements
Typically, the cost of presentation devices in the courtroom is shared between parties. Some courtroom equipment we may provide includes:
- A trial presentation computer and a back-up computer that house duplicated databases and all trial exhibits, digitized deposition videos, animations, and graphics
- Projector and screen for the jury, monitors for the judge, podium, and counsel table
- Digital document camera
- Switches and cabling
- Microphones and speakers
- Printer
- Low volume scanner
It can take up to a half of a day to set-up a courtroom properly for a trial. Advance arrangements should be made with the judge’s clerk to coordinate with building security and to guarantee timely access to the courthouse and judge’s courtroom. This can be done by the trial technologist.
A typical day for this person begins in the war room before the trial day starts. This person double checks exhibits, reviews the attorney witness outlines, and looks for any last minute changes. Then the technologist transports new information from the war room to the courtroom. The trial professional runs the system in the courtroom during trial. After the close of each day in the courtroom, this professional returns with the attorneys to the war room to prepare for the next day.