The legal profession involves many facets but in the world of highly controversial case, no where has the battle for the hearts and minds of the public as part of the legal strategy been more pronounced than in these days of media frenzy.
More than celebrities, lawyers in high-profile cases or those with high profile clients hug the same headlines and television blurbs that are usually reserved for PR men, publicists and spokespersons. Perhaps it is a recognition that it is not just in the courtroom that battle lines are drawn in a legal conflict but also in the bar of public opinion. Thus, lawyers must sharpen not just their litigation skills but public speaking as well and he must hone this in all media formats: radio, television and the newspapers.
Today, the statement: "You can talk to my lawyer" takes on different dimensions as media men hungry for comments may just have to deal with these lawyers-spokesmen instead of the real deal.
Just like Atty. Adel Tamano, lawyer for beseiged businesswoman-doctor Vicky Belo, who has had his share of the media limelight in the wake of the Katrina-Hayden Kho sex video scandal. Articulate and easy on the eye, he has become the "knight in shining armor" for the lady doctor parrying all negative news potshots taken at his client being more often than not in the daily news broadcasts.
Does this mean counsels must now be as adept as Pres. Obama in dealing with the press? Maybe, maybe not but one should not forget, in litigation evidence speaks for themselves and no matter how suave and media-savvy a lawyer might be, his case may rise or fall based therein.
No comments:
Post a Comment