“How does an immigrant, political independent, first-time candidate, beat a veteran politician by double digits in a Colorado city that has only elected Republican mayors since the city began electing mayors directly in 1979? Simple, a compelling story. Behind every successful initiative is a successful story that connects, includes and transcends. Storytelling and our ability to convey stories is key to winning. I experienced this first hand as a mayoral candidate with the work of “Tell the Winning Story.” Jesse was extremely skilled at helping take my facts and strategies and convert them into something to get residents inspired and engaged. Inspired by lessons from the theater and jury trial stage, Jesse’s work helped prepare me for mayoral debates, forums, and meet and greets. Above all, I was blown away with his ability to adapt and customize his approach to meet my ever-changing leadership and campaign needs.”
Yemi Mobolade
42nd Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Attorneys Who’ve
worked with Jesse
“Jesse is able to connect on a deeper level with clients and help find their individual story to tell – and how to tell it. Jesse’s unique talents and theater background have transformed garden variety cases on paper into fascinated accounts that have yielded multimillion dollar verdicts. Jesse has helped the trial teams we’ve worked on together reach a $12 million and $45 million verdict. Working with Jesse will force you to take off your legal hat and focus on the real reason we are here: to tell the human story.”
Brian J. Kim
Savin Bursk Law
“I credit Jesse in helping me settle a personal injury case for $16,600,000. Jesse teaches that your injured, broken, damaged, forlorn, and downtrodden client is a Victor, and is not a Victim. The day I worked with Jesse, my view of my client radically changed. I started viewing her as a victor who was committed to reclaiming what was left of her life. Every time I met her – at her home, in my office, at a doctor’s office – I started paying attention to the steps she was making to regain her life. In my mind, I saw her as a hero, not a victim. And I told her that she was strong enough to endure a trial and live with the result, no matter what it might be. I will work with Jesse any time, anywhere.”
Mike Maxwell
Michael Maxwell Graham Injury Attorneys
“We were struggling with structuring our opening argument on a complex case dealing with liability and damages. Jesse flew down 2 days later and worked with us. It was really magical and amazing what he did for our story. The scene setting brought the story to life and helped bring the Jury into the scene we needed to tell. His ability to quickly grasp the facts and characters of the story was something to behold. I truly believe he has special talents that we don’t often see!”
Lee “Jody” Amedee, III
GAUTHIER AMEDEE, APLC
“To be a trial lawyer is to be a storyteller. Why would we try a case without the help of an expert storyteller on our team? I won’t any longer. Working with Jesse to help find, perfect and ultimately tell the right story was invaluable in securing our $90 million win. I can’t speak highly enough about what Jesse brings to the table for a trial team and our clients.”
Eric Penn
The Penn Law Firm
“…I’ve never had a juror, much less the five who came up and told me how hard they fought for our clients, to the point that they stuck around to tell us. For our opening we told the story of the wreck as if we were reading from a screenplay. It really helped frame for the jury how the auto wreck happened. In our case in chief, Instead of focusing on the loss of the maternity leave with her newborn (victim), we focused on the clients’ family coming together to help her provide care for her newborn and new mother (Victor) during this precious time. The defense focused their case on gaps in treatment, overpriced meds and soft tissue injuries. The jury deliberated for two days and returned a verdict just shy of six figures at about 3xs meds!!!”
Scott Cohen
Cohen & Sinowski Personal Injury Law
“My client had an unfortunate criminal past. Because of this, we were forced to drop all loss of consortium damage claims otherwise it would come into evidence. He had done his time and was a fully reformed, dedicated grandfather. Nonetheless, his criminal past emboldened the Defense to try this case and attempt to put the criminal history in front of the jury at every opportunity. Fast forward to closing. …I put up a picture of a big, gray-haired grandfather riding an undersized red bicycle—huge, toothy smile on his face. But this picture really is about much more than being a grandpa. You see, this man you see in the picture began working at age 9. Dropped out of school in 10th Grade. Worked his entire life until retirement because of his illness. So in this picture, you are seeing a man enjoy his childhood for the first time right before dying a painful death. That’s the damages story I told to the jury. And the truth is–this story came about because of Jesse Wilson’s work with us.”
Chris Madeksho
Madeksho Law
“The only thing that has the ring of truth is the truth. We know it when we see it. And when we don’t see it, we know that, too. If we want to get to that magical spot for us, our witnesses and our clients, we have to remove the barriers we erect, the armor we wear and the masks we hide behind. If you want get to that spot and go on the journey that it demands, Jesse can be your guide.”
Bob Pahlke
Robert Pahlke Law Group
“Two days of breakthroughs working with Jesse Wilson in the theater on my case coming up for trial. Who would’ve thought the hardest state before the story to connect to would be JOY and AWE? Or that the language of universal connection, inspiration, and motivation is not some reptilian FEAR, but instead is that one truth worth living – and dying – for … LOVE. I have always believed this and rejected the idea that fear – fear of the defendant’s case – is what motivates jurors. That’s only part of it. LOVE is what makes a stranger run into a burning building to save a child, not fear. The jury may not always love my client, but when the victor’s story rather than the victim’s story is told, the jury will love what my client does – after all she’s been through just to feed herself after losing over 90% of her small intestines – to still rise everyday, greet her garden, nourish her roses, feed for her horses, and sing to the flora and fauna surrounding her. Thank you, Jesse.”
Adam Malone
Malone Law
“All of the women credit the work you did with them not only to help find their story but to access the courage to tell it. Your work was not only beneficial to the case but transformative for the ladies. They needed the safe place to tell their story and this tool that you used gave them that safe place, making later depo prep that much more valuable.”
Michelle Burrows
Trial Attorney
“What makes Jesse special is his ability to connect with people. To get to know them and to earn their trust. And by doing so, they allow him to help them give a voice to the stories they carry inside of them. And there is no better gift we can give our clients!”
Daniel Rodriguez
Rodriguez and Associates
Praise for
Jesse’s Book
“Witness Preparation:
How To Tell The Winning Story”
“Jesse writes the same way he teaches, with passion and elegance. I have watched this incredibly gifted actor, teacher, and now jury consultant, for a decade change the way lawyers tell stories–awakening the dead and dull courtrooms of America. Jesse is a walking laboratory of ideas and energy…. We work to unlearn the didactic cold thinking of law school. Jesse wears none of those shackles. This book is necessary reading if lawyers desire something more than reading an argument from a computer screen or walking through, or hiding behind, the drudgery of a PowerPoint presentation. By seeing the victor in my clients, I see the victor in everyone. Jesse is a big part of that growth.”
Mel Orchard
Governor to the American Association of Justice and member of the Inner Circle of Advocates
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jesse Wilson on several occasions. I knew about his effective strategies for storytelling in the courtroom. I knew that he is a fabulous teacher. I knew that he is a great communicator. What I didn’t know is that he has the rare ability to write about what he does and make it so understandable and compelling. This is a book that I will keep nearby and refer to often as I prepare my cases for trial. It is that good. It is the best book I have ever read about telling the story of our client’s case. I recommend it to you all. Thank you, Jesse.”
John Sloan
Former President of The Trial Lawyers College, tried over 150 cases to a jury verdict, ABOTA member, and on the board of regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
“This beautifully written masterpiece is an absolute must read. Its humble teachings align with my personal experiences and many hours working with Jesse Wilson that began over ten years ago. Working on our ‘self, ‘ego, “identity, and ‘role’ in a jury trial is something we all need to work on. Doing this essential work and following Jesse’s lessons and techniques might prove to be your lost key that will open doors to victories you never imagined possible.”
Nicholas Rowley
Co-author of “Trial by Human” and “Voir Dire and Opening Statements”
“This book is a must read for trial lawyers. Through thirty years of trying cases and over twenty years of teaching trial advocacy techniques to the plaintiff’s bar, I have been on a quest to figure out how to bring a case to trial in a way that evokes the healing art that justice is meant to be, and I believe that Jesse Wilson has hit on it in Witness Preparation: How to Tell the Winning Story. Jesse’s method is healing for the client, empowering for the advocate, and clarifying for the hearer and trier of fact. I have personally used his methods and I know many of America’s most successful lawyers swear by these methods. May you read this book, and may you find power and courage and justice at the end of each day that you seek it.”
Vicki Slater
Trial Lawyers College faculty, recipient of the Mississippi Association for Justice Lifetime Achievement Award, and former president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association
“This is a higher-level book for young and seasoned trial lawyers who want to elevate their advocacy skills and to prepare clients to testify. So often our clients, and even us experienced trial lawyers, get sucked into the victim’s role and lose sight of what makes a compelling story. Jesse shifts the victim’s paradigm to the victor’s role using words and structure. Jesse has added to the richness of trial advocacy literature to help people win in court.”
Minh Nguyen
Founder and trial lawyer at Nguyen Lawyers, ALC; Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles 2023 President (2022 President-Elect): and instructor at Gerry Spence Method at Thunderhead Ranch
“We, as trial lawyers, inherently want to focus on how injured our client is and the bad conduct of the defendant. The way to the jury’s heart includes a message of hope and inspiration. Jesse tackles this conflict and challenges the traditional teachings of the trial lawyer, capturing hope and inspiration’s elusive magic. An evolution in how plaintiffs’ lawyers must frame a case, Witness Preparation: How to Tell the Winning Story includes practical tips and guidance in a missing link to the current model of how we try cases.”
Eric Fong
Achieved the largest compensatory damages verdict for one person in Washington State history ($91, 000, 000) , and instructor at Trial Lawyers College
“I have read Jesse’s books, and I work with him. Why? Because he and I are aligned in our core beliefs about what juror’s respect and reject. Americans respect people who buck up and reject those who give up. The quickest way to lose is by whining. Jesse’s first book was about taking the whimpering out of plaintiffs. Now he is helping lawyers carry that victor’s message from the beginning of trial to the end. I will be telling all of our lawyers to read it.”
Keith Mitnik
Senior Trial Counsel for Morgan & Morgan, best-selling Author of “Don’t Eat The Bruises,” and “Deeper Cuts,” Host of “The Art of Outsmarting” podcast and in-person national events
“Jesse has done it again and I am all “on board” with his new book! Having worked with Jesse on a tractor trailer case this year – he pushed my skills to the next level and helped us maximize the results for a Missouri family. My favorite chapter and where he improved my opening statement the most, is “Tell It Like a Movie.” If you have not been on stage and let Jesse work with you, stop what you are doing, buy this book, and call him. He will share his gift with you too. “
Sach Oliver
Trial Attorney, The Oliver Law Firm, Author of “Depositions Are Trial,” and on the board of regents for the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
“Jesse Wilson’s new book is a masterpiece for the trial lawyer. Beyond understanding the fundamentals of persuasion and storytelling, he lays out the tools for presenting the case and preparing witnesses in the most understandable way. No trial lawyer should ever again think that she/he has to recite a script handed to him by someone else. Instead, by following Jesse’s brilliant, yet easy to understand insights, we learn how to make the plaintiff’s story persuasive, enabling every advocate to present their case convincingly. This book is must reading for new trial lawyers and the most seasoned lawyers among us.”
Judith A. Livingston
Trial Attorney & Senior Partner, Kramer Dillof, Livingston & Moore; and Past President of The Inner Circle of Advocates
“I recommend this book to every trial lawyer who is serious about obtaining justice for their clients. It is extremely well written and makes for interesting reading. As a bonus, Jesse’s ideas are golden. The difference for me between Jesse and some so-called expert trial consultants is that I have not only seen the outstanding results of his work with lawyers but have experienced those results firsthand. I have hired Jesse to do workshops with our firm and other local lawyers, to work with me individually and to work with my clients to help us tell their stories. I always come away feeling inspired to put Jesse’s teaching into action.”
John Sloan
Former President of The Trial Lawyers College, tried over 150 cases to a jury verdict, ABOTA member, and on the board of regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
“In his new book, Jesse shakes up traditional courtroom storytelling by encouraging trial lawyers to present our clients as victors instead of victims. He urges us to ’embrace the suck’ and find the winning story for our trials, while eschewing ‘templates’ and ‘formulas.’ His fresh approach, backed by real-world data and compelling case examples, highlights how framing clients as fighters on a journey to overcome their struggles can resonate more deeply with jurors. ‘The Most Important Juror’ is packed with practical tips from accomplished trial lawyers around the country, making it a useful guide for lawyers who want to connect more authentically with their juries. This is not a book will not sit quietly gathering dust in the corner book shelf. Instead, you will dog ear and highlight pages as you return to it frequently for inspiration on the journey to find ‘The Winning Story’ for each of your significant cases.”
Lloyd Bell
Trial Attorney, The Bell Law Firm; Host of the “Face The Jury” podcast, and Member of The Inner Circle of Advocates
Praise for
Jesse’s Book
“The Most Important Juror:
Embrace The Winning Story in Jury Selection, Opening Statement, & Rebuttal”
Workshop
Testimonials
