Baxter Baker partner Charles “Chad” I. Joseph spoke at the University of Baltimore’s online event, Trial Advocacy: The Art of Storytelling. The event was held Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. via Zoom, and was hosted by Law Forum and the Board of Advocates. Chad was invited to speak based on his article, “The Testament of My Wanderings in the Weary Land”: A Trial Attorney and the Search for a Story.” The article, which Chad coauthored with Gillian Drake and Kailey Silverstein, was the focal point of the event. In the article, the authors explore the structure of a story, how to employ it as a persuasive strategy in trial and litigation, and why, given our understanding of how people make decisions, it is more effective than other litigation and trial strategies. The Article explains that a Story’s persuasive power rests in its structure, and therefore, it allows an attorney to present facts and themes that resonate with both the logical and emotional components of a person’s decision-making process. Additionally, with its familiar path, turns, and drama, a Story provides a mechanism for attorneys to organize information in a way that is familiar to a juror, and thus, makes it easier for them to process the evidence. The Article’s primary goal is to inspire our future trial attorneys, teach them the fundamentals of Storytelling, and demonstrate why storytelling is an effective strategy. At its core, the Article challenges attorneys, and law students alike, to make a decision: do you want to be a Storyteller or a traditional salesperson? Chad is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is one of the premier legal associations in North America and is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. He is also an elected member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Association of Defense Counsel, which are both invitation-only, peer-reviewed organizations.
