Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.
- Tony Robbins
Below are some of the most common questions we receive from clients and potential clients. if you don't see your question on this list then please feel free to contact us for more information.
Q: Isn’t it true that technology is overused and that judges don’t like it?
A: False. While technology in the courtroom is used more and more everyday, the only concern you should have is whether you use it correctly. Our experience tells us that judges welcome methods that allow them a better understanding of the evidence presented. We are repeatedly complimented by judges on how problem-free our presentations are and how seamlessly they function in the courtroom.
Q: I am concerned that technology can make a lawyer look too “slick” or that he’s trying too hard. Is this a problem?
A: This is a potential problem, but not for us. Our technology and presentations are strategically custom-created to work with your case so that nothing seems out of place. There is a difference between flashy graphics used to impress and substantive graphics used to communicate. All of our presentations are designed with substance in mind, which makes you look prepared and well informed rather than merely trying to impress. We often notice that jurors, judges, mediators, and arbitrators are significantly more attentive when they feel that they are not only participating in a case, but understanding it clearly as well.
Q: Is it worth using technology on small cases?
A: The simple answer is that there is always something you can do to improve how effective you are at communicating your case. Even small cases can benefit from the bare minimum of electronic document access, but you don’t have to stop there. Simple timelines, photos, audio/video transcript synchronization, scene reconstructions, and procedural graphics are just a few easy and simple ways to improve your case, no matter how small. We also have a variety of pre-made presentations that you can license and that we can customize if needed. Even if you don’t want to use visuals for some reason, but still want advice on your case, you can meet with one of our litigation consultants to review your case with you.
Q: What if my case doesn’t have any visual issues? What if my case is all document based? What if the most important issue in my case doesn’t require visual communication?
A: Come talk to us first before you decide that your case has no visual issues. So many attorneys (including some of our first-time clients) have the misguided impression that their cases do not have any visual issues because their evidence is in the form of documents. The reality is that every case may not have visual issues, but every case has issues that can be dealt with visually. Your documents create a story and our job is to find that story within your evidence and show it visually. Try us out before you chalk your case up as a visual loss. You will be surprised by what we can do with just one key piece of evidence and by what your case has to offer if you take the time to let some fresh eyes take a look. Simply, this is what we do and why so many attorneys from all over the country hire us.
Q: What if I’m an attorney that works outside of the Massachusetts or New England areas? How will we communicate about my case? Why should I hire you instead of a local graphics company?
A: Your location is not a problem. Our use of technology is not limited to the legal field, but extends to tele-communication as well. With the benefits of the Internet, telephone, video conferencing, and overnight delivery, you won’t even know how far away we are. We have repeat clients all over the United States and we’ve even worked on international cases. When you need our physical presence, we make sure to make it happen. Don’t let something as insignificant as distance stop you from obtaining the benefits of working with us. Your local graphics company can’t compare to what we offer our clients because we are so much more than just graphics because of the simple fact that we’re also lawyers.
Q: What makes you different from any other graphics company?
A: Simple. We’re not a graphics company. We’re lawyers who know how to use graphics and technology. As lawyers we understand the legal issues surrounding your case, the arguments you want to make, and the admissibility procedures required to turn those arguments into reality. We use our legal knowledge to help you present your evidence in the most effective way possible. The technology and graphics we provide merely compliment our legal skills allowing us to tell the story of your case visually. With us, you’re not just getting great graphics; you’re getting a full team of lawyers ready to help you on all aspects of your case.
Q: How much does it generally cost to work with WIN?
A: All of our presentations are custom-created, so we can’t determine cost until we actually define a scope for the project at our first meeting. We offer a wide range of services and the cost really depends on the complexity of the presentation created. We do, however, offer a variety of payment methods that include hourly rates, flat fee rates, contract case bundles, and success fee rates to accommodate any cost concerns that an attorney might have. We also offer “The Best Trial Lawyer Discounts,” which are overall percentage discounts on our standard hourly rates for clients that come to us at least one month prior to a presentation date. The bottom line is that we can work within your budget to provide you with some kind of presentation that will improve your case as well as provide you with options for different payment methods. As a bonus to our clients we offer the lowest equipment rental rates around. You should also look at our Licensed Materials page for pre-made presentations that we can customize for you if you just want something immediately. Call us today for more information about this year’s “Pricing Schedule” with all of our rates and applicable discounts.
Q: I’ve seen 3D before. What differentiates your 3D graphics from other companies?
A: You haven’t seen 3D graphics like ours. 3D graphics are a relatively new technology that the legal community is still not ready to handle. It takes more than artistry to create legally admissible 3D graphics. Our 3D graphics are created using our legal knowledge and visual evidence experience to make sure that the end product is admissible for use in court. We also have experience combating 3D graphics used by an opposing party and know the arguments needed to keep certain inadmissible graphics out. We are particularly interested and actively engaged in paving the way for 3D graphics in the legal community.
Q: I use technology too. Aren’t your presentations just glorified PowerPoint?
A: You don’t use technology like ours. We are as far beyond PowerPoint as PowerPoint is from index cards and chalkboards. PowerPoint is better than using nothing at all, but it is by no means the best way to effectively communicate your evidence to an audience. Scholars, like Edward Tufte, who analyze the best way to communicate information, agree that PowerPoint is a great way to bore people. Slides slathered with words that a presenter uses as notes, or worse, reads from directly, are not doing you any favors and we know that. As a result, we created our own proprietary software called the “WIN Studio” that combines our legal knowledge and design skills with our own special process for creating your presentations. You won’t find anything like the WIN Studio or our S.M.A.R.T. Strategy anywhere other than WIN Interactive.
Q: Do you guarantee admissibility? What if all or part of the presentation is not admissible?
A: We do not guarantee admissibility for the same reason that any attorney doesn’t guarantee his/her clients that they can get in all the key evidence or win the case. Like you, we can’t be held responsible for every strange or incorrect ruling a judge makes. Nonetheless, because we are lawyers there are three main benefits to working with us when it comes to admissibility. The first benefit is that we always design with admissibility in mind. If we can’t get a presentation or piece of a presentation into evidence one way then we have numerous other ways of trying to get it in. The second benefit is that the simple act of working with us and getting your presentation together increases how prepared you are for you case. Even if you can't get something into evidence, the benefit of creating that presentation and using it to prepare yourself or witnesses is invaluable. The third benefit we provide you is the security of knowing that if the opposing party decides to use technology in the courtroom, that we are in your corner to help you fight it.
Q: What happens if the technology fails?
A: If it fails, we'll fix it, but we've never had it fail. We know the risks of using technology and we protect against them, whether it's by having backup computers, hard drives, and connections, or simply providing you with hard copies of the presentation. If you're going to use technology on your case then do it right. We know how to do it right, which is why we've never had it fail on us. We haven't come up against a technical problem that we couldn't deal with immediately and efficiently to make sure that the case wasn't disrupted. We are often compliment by opposing counsel and judges for how smoothly and seamlessly our presentations run.
Q: Who runs the presentation?
A: Sometimes lawyers will want to run their own presentations, but we always advise that someone from our team run the presentation for you. When we're there we offer full litigation support that ranges from simple technical support to litigation consulting on visual issues that often arise during a case. When you have one of us running the presentation, you look more professional and you don't have to worry about any technical details while you're doing what you do best - trying your case.
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