This medical malpractice action is being tried to a jury. We are in the midst of the final Defendant’s Opening Statement, and all Defendant’s counsel have used PowerPoint. The first lawyer is having difficulties with slides advancing very quickly – apparently nerves are causing her to hit the button multiple times. In frustration, she puts down the remote and asks her technology specialist to navigate for her. A different lawyer experiences a similar problem when the screen goes to white and she is unable to bring up the presentation. Frustration is apparent for both lawyers.

Moral? Learn all of the required commands and full use of the remote. A lawyer’s frustration over a PowerPoint presentation working differently than the lawyer had planned is nothing compared to juror frustration over the delays it causes. Further, it is rarely the technology’s fault. Educate yourself. Completely. Learn how to start, stop, go back, go forward, skip around and go from blank screen to a slide. PRACTICE. Then practice some more.