Professor Harry Caldwell, "Closing the Deal: Principles of Closing Argument Grounded in Empirical Studies and Lessons of the Masters" -- American Journal of Trial Advocacy (forthcoming)

Professor Harry M. Caldwell's article, "Closing the Deal: Principles of Closing Argument Grounded in Empirical Studies and Lessons of the Masters" (SSRN), will be published in the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. The article identifies the key principles for a successful closing argument

Abstract of  "Closing the Deal: Principles of Closing Argument Grounded in Empirical Studies and Lessons of the Masters"

Any advocate can deliver a closing argument, but it takes an advocate steeped in the art and science of closing argument to truly close the deal. Relying on empirical data from the social sciences and drawing on closing arguments by master advocates, this article identifies the key principles for a successful closing argument. Closing arguments must be grounded in the advocate's credibility, and should reason alongside jurors to a conclusion, give jurors a compelling reason to side with the client, tap into the persuasive power of stories, organize evidence through a list, read and respond to juror body language, mitigate hurtful evidence boils, and avoid verbosity. These principles will help navigate around common pitfalls and elevate their closing argument to an art form.