Law.com Features Erin Taylor’s NITA Webinar on Crafting Effective Opening Statements

A recent Law.com article featured insights from a National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) webinar co-presented by Womble Bond Dickinson Of Counsel Erin Taylor and Sara Sibley of Callahan & Fusco on the pivotal role opening statements play in trial. The article recapped key guidance from the program, noting how an effective opening can shape jurors’ understanding of the case, establish credibility and set the tone from the outset.

“How to Craft Outstanding Opening Statements” focused on helping trial lawyers develop openings that are clear, compelling and credible. Taylor and Sibley offered practical strategies for framing the case early, giving jurors a useful roadmap and presenting a narrative that resonates beyond a simple recitation of facts.

Law.com noted that the presenters stressed how quickly jurors begin forming impressions of an attorney’s credibility, often within the first moments of trial. Taylor and Sibley encouraged advocates to open with a strong hook, avoid clichés and build their statements around a memorable theme supported by the most important evidence. They also stressed the importance of storytelling, noting that jurors are more likely to engage with a cohesive narrative than a fact-heavy summary. Above all, they advised attorneys to address weaknesses honestly and avoid overpromising, reinforcing that trust and credibility are central to an effective opening statement.

Click here to read the full article featured in Law.com.