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Published Legal Articles by Firm Attorneys

Why Touchscreen PowerPoint is the Next Big Thing in Trial Presentations

August 14, 2023

Originally Published In:

TechnoLawyer.Com LitigationWorld

Trial presentation software has long enabled litigators to jump around in a non-linear fashion. However, Windows 8 is a game changer according to lawyer and trial technology consultant Morgan Smith. In this issue of LitigationWorld, Morgan discusses how he created a touchscreen-optimized PowerPoint presentation for a recent hearing that enabled the lawyers to jump instantly to any of the 350 slides.

URL to article:

http://www.technolawyer.com/litigationworld.asp

How to Prepare for Trial Before Discovery Starts

May 6, 2024

Originally Published In:

TechnoLawyer.com LitigationWorld

While winging it may work for some endeavors, it's not a good idea for litigation. Lawyer and trial graphics consultant Morgan Smith explains the advantages of creating visuals early in a case prior to depositions. He then passes along tips on how to name deposition and trial exhibits, and discusses the many advantages of following his advice.

Five Litigation Graphics Tips Plus New Litigation Technologies

February 25, 2024

Originally Published In:

Technolawyer.com

You can't count on a glove not fitting to win your case. Instead, you often need to use demonstrative evidence to show a jury something otherwise difficult to visualize. In this issue of LitigationWorld, lawyer and trial graphics consultant Morgan Smith shares five tips from his many years of trial experience, including three types of visuals to always consider creating, when to start creating visuals and when to use them, and how to avoid "Death by PowerPoint."

URL to article:

http://blog.technolawyer.com/2013/02/litigation-graphics-tips.html

Getting the Most Out of Your iPad During Litigation

September 30, 2023

Originally Published In:

The Jury Expert

The iPad is a perfect tool for displaying case information during trial. With new apps, easy touch-screen navigation, connectivity, and portability, the iPad can act as a remote control and quick editing device for your presentation. I’ll describe some apps and connectivity options for turning your iPad into a powerful litigation tool.

URL to article:

http://www.thejuryexpert.com/2012/09/getting-the-most-out-of-your-ipad-during-li...

Animation Will Play A Bigger Role At Trial, Post "Duenas"

September 1, 2023

Originally Published In:

Plaintiff Magazine

Is it an animation or simulation? Morgan C. Smith of Cogent Legal explains the Supreme Court's new roadmap for animation admissibility.

URL to article:

http://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/Sept12/Smith_Animation-will-play-a-bigger-role-...

How to Optimize Your iPad for Mediation or Trial

May 30, 2024

Originally Published In:

Consumer Attorneys of California Forum Magazine

Want to use your new iPad in your litigation practice? Here's an overview to help you get started and leverage the most useful apps.

URL to article:

https://www.caoc.org/index.cfm?pg=ArtIndex12#MayJune

PDF Download:

ipadarticleforum2012.pdf

iPads at Trial: Attorneys Can Go Beyond the Basic Apps to Make Compelling Case Presentations

May 7, 2024

Originally Published In:

The Recorder Special Supplement on Litigation and Trial Technology

In this feature story for The Recorder, Morgan C. Smith shows attorneys how to optimize the iPad for law practice management as well as for presentations for mediation or trial.

URL to article:

http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/ca/Litigation_Trial_Technology_LR.pdf

PDF Download:

recorderipadarticle.pdf

Check It Out: Test and Rehearse to Avoid Tech Troubles When Presenting Your Case

May 1, 2024

Originally Published In:

The ABA's GP/Solo e-Report

Drawing on personal anecdotes, Morgan Smith teaches attorneys how to anticipate and troubleshoot problems that may arise in mediation and trial, and six preparatory steps to take before using technology in the courtroom.

URL to article:

http://www.americanbar.org/publications/gpsolo_ereport/2012/may_2012/check_it_ou...

PDF Download:

abatechwithhandout.pdf

Visualizing Your Case for ADR: 5 Steps to Better Prepare Your Case for Mediation or Arbitration

October 11, 2023

Originally Published In:

The Recorder Special Supplement on Arbitration and Mediation

Morgan Smith explains why it’s important to start conceptualizing your case visually, and organizing it digitally, as early as possible

PDF Download:

recorderarticleoct2011.pdf

Five Ideas on What Attorneys Can Do About the California Courts in Crisis

October 3, 2023

Originally Published In:

San Francisco Attorney Magazine

In light of disasterous cutbacks to the state’s civil justice system, Cogent Legal’s Morgan Smith describes five actions that attorneys can take to cope with unprecedented delays, including: greater use by both parties of Section 998 offers, more effective preparation for mediation, and expanded use of the state’s new “one-day trial” law.

PDF Download:

PDF version of the article

Cogent Legal in the News

GC Research Club Interview: Morgan Smith on Litigation Presentation and Tech for Lawyers

July 1, 2023

Originally Published In:

GCResearchClub.com

Earlier this month I chatted to Morgan C. Smith, a former trial attorney who now runs Cogent Legal, a litigation graphics and trial strategy firm in the USA. Morgan wanted to do something a bit different following an extensive career in litigation. Realising that he enjoyed the presentation aspect of being attorney more than anything else, he decided to help other lawyers who struggle to present their case in a way that is interesting and appealing, whether that be to judges, jurors, CEOs or whoever else. We talked about many things including his move away from litigation to having his own company, how important presentation is for any kind of lawyer, how technology has changed the legal world and we even managed to talk about some of Morgan’s favourite apps as well. - by William Barns-Graham

URL to article:

http://community.sion1.com/GCresearch/post/GCRC-Interview--Morgan-Smith-from-Cog...

App Friday: Morgan C. Smith

January 6, 2024

Originally Published In:

LawyerTechReview.com's "App Friday" column

For its “App Friday” column, the website Lawyer Tech Review interviewed Cogent Legal’s Morgan Smith about a favorite legal app, Apple’s Keynote Remote, and an app for fun.

URL to article:

http://lawyertechreview.com/2012/app-friday-morgan-c-smith/

PDF Download:

appfridaymorgancsmith.pdf

Sabbaticals Help Lawyers Reassess, Redirect Careers

January 1, 2024

Originally Published In:

ABA Journal Magazine

The ABA Journal profiles attorneys, including Cogent Legal’s Morgan C. Smith, who used extended travel to reassess and change their legal career path.

URL to article:

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/time_out_sabbaticals_help_lawyers_rea...

Events and Presentations

Building the Visual Foundation of Your Case

October 11, 2023 - 1:25pm

Cogent President Morgan C. Smith gave a presentation to trial attorneys at a Melvin Belli seminar on trial practices. He described a three-part plan and showed many samples to create simple yet effective graphics for a personal injury case. For details, see the related blog post.

Location:

San Jose

Host:

Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association

Innovations in Law: Science and Technology

September 20, 2023 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Morgan C. Smith attended the "Innovations in Law: Science and Technology" conference at the Federal District of Oregon and gave a presentation on optimizing the iPad for litigation. See related blog post.

Location:

Portland, Oregon

Host:

U.S. District Court, Oregon District

Mastering Simple Trial Technology Presentation Skills in One Hour

June 25, 2024 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Expedited Jury Trials, short trials and arbitrations need to be tried efficiently. But you still want to present evidence in a meaningful and visual way. This program is designed to help you learn how to do this yourself, to select the right method to present your case and to avoid the ignominy of equipment failure. Morgan C. Smith of Cogent Legal will present with Miles B. Cooper of Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, and Jeffrey R. Smith of Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP.

Location:

SFTLA conference room in San Francisco

Host:

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association

Pre-Trial and Trial Document Handling

March 13, 2024 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Cogent Legal’s Michael Kelleher gave a presentation on managing litigation from complaint through electronic discovery to trial.

Location:

San Mateo

Host:

San Mateo Bar Association Litigation Section

Using Technology Effectively in the Courtroom

October 26, 2023 - 9:00am - 11:00am

Cogent Legal's Morgan Smith presented a workshop on courtroom technology and case presentations for the San Francisco Bar Association's Barristers Club, to help young attorneys succeed in their first years of practice and beyond.

Location:

Bar Association of San Francisco conference center

Host:

Bar Association of San Francisco

Legal Marketing Technology Conference West Seminar on Legal Blogging

October 8, 2023 - 12:00am - 9:04am

Cogent Legal's Morgan Smith presented on a panel of speakers about blogging, social media and online marketing for small firms and solo attorneys.

Location:

San Francisco

Host:

Legal Marketing Technology Conference West

Technology for Better Mediation

September 13, 2023

Cogent Legal's Morgan Smith co-presented a CLE webinar for trial attorneys on how to most effectively use technology and graphics in mediation to achieve the best results for clients. Please read the related blog post for details, "How to Use Technology Effectively in Mediation."

Location:

webinar

Host:

SeminarWeb

Optimize Your iPad for Mediation and Trial

July 19, 2023

A presentation to attorneys at the Manatt's Palo Alto firm to show them how to leverage an iPad for use in litigation and law practice.

Location:

Palo Alto, CA

Host:

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips

Optimize Your iPad for Mediation and Trial

July 18, 2023 - July 19, 2023

An MCLE presentation to show attorneys how to leverage an iPad for use in litigation and law practice.

Location:

San Francisco

Host:

Cooper, White & Cooper

American Society of Trial Consultants Panel on Social Media and Marketing

June 9, 2024

Cogent Legal's Morgan C. Smith joined a panel of litigation consultants and social media experts to discuss the benefits and challenges of blogging and other social media engagement.

Location:

New Orleans, LA

Host:

American Society of Trial Consultants National Convention

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