Using Mitigation Videos to Humanize Your Client 2025

Your client is more than just a case file

You know that, but those deciding your client’s fate might not. Sentencing advocacy films can tell the whole story, showing judges and juries the human being behind the charges. These short, documentary-style videos capture voices, images, and experiences that just don’t come through in a written memo. Their use can help decision-makers see your client as a whole person rather than just a criminal defendant.

Justice through storytelling

At Using Mitigation Videos to Humanize Your Client, you’ll learn how sentencing videos can enhance your approach to mitigation. Chris Lang, a former journalist turned mitigation specialist with over ten years of experience at the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, has created numerous biographical films that help defendants share their personal stories.

What you’ll learn:

• The types of cases and clients best suited for video advocacy
• How a film can complement and substantiate a written sentencing memo
• The essential steps and storytelling elements of an effective mitigation video
• Pros, cons, and caveats to consider before producing a sentencing film
• Other potential uses for client-centered advocacy videos

The full picture

By giving shape to a client’s life story—their struggles, relationships, and resilience—mitigation videos can generate empathy, foster understanding, and remind the court that every case is ultimately about human life, not just a legal outcome.

Using Mitigation Videos to Humanize Your Client shows you how to craft compelling sentencing films that can lead to improved outcomes for your clients.