More lawyers use animation to sway juries

Article Abstract:

Lawyers are using computer animation in the courtrooms to illustrate their cases to juries. Juries tend to watch television more than they read books, so screen-oriented presentation can have a larger impact on the jury members. The animation sequences cannot be accepted a pure evidence but may be used as extensions of charts to enhance expert testimony. Many of the animations help visualize a series of events such as murders and disaster cases. The animations can cost between $5,000 and $250,000. Jurors can retain and believe what they see much easier than what they hear from a lawyer's mouth. The judge must know that animations will be used in advance and the opposing counsel must have time to view the animation and all the assumptions based on the animation.

Cases, Graphics software, Computer animation, Animation software, End users, User Need, Trends, Legal Issues

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Software programs help non-lawyers prepare wills, other legal documents

Article Abstract:

Software packages are available, at affordable prices, that can help laypeople prepare legal documents. Such software is an evolutionary outgrowth of fill-in-the-blanks legal forms sold in stationery stores. Computerized document generators have advantages: they are easily updated, they print out nicely, and they only include parts that relate to a particular situation. The best-seller among these programs currently is WillMaker, $69.95, from Nolo Press Inc, Berkeley, CA. Other programs mentioned include: Home Lawyer, $119.95, from MECA Software; It's Legal, $69, from Parsons Technology; Personal Law Firm, $99.95, from BLOC Publishing; Quickform Contracts, $250, from Invisible Hand Software; and Personnel Policy Expert, $495, from KnowledgePoint.

Software, Product information, Business forms, Word processing software, Document preparation, Legal documents, Software Packages

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