I keep a ledger of every dramatic flourish I’ve seen in a courtroom, and the stories that get the jury to nod early are worth more points than a well‑placed legal precedent. The trick isn’t just the words— it’s the rhythm, the pause before the punch, the little emotional cue that turns fact into feeling. Think of it like a chess opening: you set up a position that forces the opponent to play defensively. In court, a good narrative forces the jury to imagine themselves in the scenario, then you slide the truth in the end. It’s all about anticipating the counter‑move and keeping the line clean, or the judge will call a draw.