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Live On-Demand

The Opening Statement Advantage

Take control with a winning narrative

What You Will Learn

  • Establish a winning narrative from the outset so every piece of evidence fits your story
  • Turn facts into a compelling, human story that jurors understand and remember
  • Build credibility using records, testimony, and demonstratives
  • Introduce experts and complex concepts in a way jurors can follow
  • Frame damages early so jurors are prepared to return a substantial verdict
  • Use visuals and timelines strategically to reinforce your case

Share this program:

What You Will Learn

  • Establish a winning narrative from the outset so every piece of evidence fits your story
  • Turn facts into a compelling, human story that jurors understand and remember
  • Build credibility using records, testimony, and demonstratives
  • Introduce experts and complex concepts in a way jurors can follow
  • Frame damages early so jurors are prepared to return a substantial verdict
  • Use visuals and timelines strategically to reinforce your case

Register now for immediate access to this program.

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  • Summary
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Price

$79 for Association Member
$99 for Non-member

75 minutes
Date Published

May 14, 2026

Publisher

Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.

Subjects

Opening Statements

Questions

For immediate assistance please consult our FAQ page. If you're unable to find the answer you need, please call 737-201-2059 (M-F, 8am-6pm CT) or e-mail customer service.

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Summary

The most important moment of your trial may come before a single witness is sworn. Jurors are not blank slates—they are already building a story in their minds. If you don’t give them a narrative to focus on, the defense will. Mary Koch will show you how to take control of the case from the very first words of your opening statement by establishing a winning narrative so that every piece of evidence fits your story. Drawing from decades of experience and real trial strategy, Mary will break down how elite trial attorneys frame the narrative, build credibility, and position the jury to reach your verdict before the defense even begins.

You’ll leave with practical techniques you can immediately apply in your next trial—whether you’re handling a straightforward case or complex litigation. In today’s courtroom, the attorneys who win are the ones who own the narrative first.

SWOD-27775

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Presenters

Mary V. Koch
Partner - Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC

Mary McNamara Koch joined WVFK&N as a partner in January 2016. Shortly after her arrival, she obtained Plaintiffs’... Read More

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Program Titles and Supporting Materials

This program contains the following components:

Media Files
The Opening Statement Advantage - Video
Downloadable Files
The Opening Statement Advantage - Slide Handout
Own the Narrative - Handout
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Credit

If applicable, you may obtain credit in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously for this program (see pending/approved list below). If electing credit for this program, registrants in jurisdictions not listed below will receive a Certificate of Completion that may or may not meet credit requirements in other jurisdictions. Where applicable, credit will be only awarded to a paid registrant completing all the requirements of the program as determined by the selected accreditation authority.

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How to Attend

Join the self-paced program from your office, home, or hotel room using a computer and high speed internet connection. You may start and stop the program at your convenience, continue where you left off, and review supporting materials as often as you like. Please note: Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser. We recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari for best results.

Technical Requirements
You may access this course on a computer or mobile device with high speed internet (iPhones require iOS 10 or higher). Recommended browsers are Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

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ABOUT

Consumer Attorneys of California is a professional organization that represents the interests of 39 million Californians. Our member-attorneys stand for plaintiffs seeking accountability from those who do wrong.

CONTACT

770 L St, Ste 1200 Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-442-6902
Fax: 916-442-7734
Email: info@caoc.org

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