doesn’t exactly ooze warmth. “I’m a big guy with a military look,” Dave explains,
and I have an intense streak. In the trade secrets trial, I wouldn’t say stuttering is
why I won, but it helped my credibility: it made me a real person. It gave them an
insight into my character that they liked. It humanized me: this is a guy we can
pull for. It made me seem less polished, and more credible as an advocate.
People think you have to be this polished, perfect person. Actually, you don’t
want a lawyer who is too slick. Good trial lawyers aim to be an expert and a
regular guy at the same time.When Dave Walton stands in front of a jury in spite of his stutter, they can see that he cares deeply
about his clients—he believes in them enough that he’s willing to expose his own vulnerability to
support them. This sends a powerful message to his audience that helps win them over by increasing
his prestige and softening the dominance in his natural appearance.