While all at that hearing did an admirable job advocating for their clients, those who took the extra step to polish their Zoom setups, ensuring their video and audio were on point, and that their cameras were well-positioned, unquestionably had an edge.
By Daniel S. Maland | October 09, 2020
During the course of a recent multi-day Zoom evidentiary hearing, it hit me that all of the attorneys who participated, save for the judge who sat before the state seal (as is custom), were not using virtual backgrounds. Being that the Zoom hearing proceeded for nearly a week, it provided everyone with ample time to analyze each other’s virtual meeting setups. While all at that hearing did an admirable job advocating for their clients, those who took the extra step to polish their Zoom setups, ensuring their video and audio were on point, and that their cameras were well-positioned, unquestionably had an edge.
Fortunately, now that Zoom and remote working have transitioned from being novelties to a regular part of daily practice, we are all capable of taking similar practical steps to give ourselves that advantage.
First and foremost, now is the time to ensure that your video set-up and desk layout put your best face forward. Simple, real-life backgrounds have the best payoff as they allow for one’s message to be presented without the risk of unintended distractions, like an inconsistent virtual background cutting in and out. After several months into this “new normal,” good excuses just do not exist for poor lighting and audio. Grab a lamp from another room, invest in some basic lighting, or just take your Zoom next to the closest window to ensure your face can be seen clearly. For those with messy desks, shift those stacks of paper and lunch wrappers out of view, as tidy workspaces visually support organized arguments and presentations.
Reliable audio is even more important than good video. If you cannot be heard, or hear what is going on, that is a deal-breaker. There is no shame in using a pair of microphone headphones, such as the ones that came with your cellphone.
These principles equally apply to firms undergoing their “back to office” transitions (note, I do not say “back to work” as that phrase falsely connotes that attorneys have not been working the past several months). A polished video and audio setup are just as necessary in the office. If there is space available, consider putting together a designated “Zoom room,” preferably where the best Wi-Fi (or even better, hard-wired internet), consistent and thoughtful lighting, and soundproofing are available.
