This is the most common question I get: a writer has a story idea, a scene, a plot twist or a character action and wants to know, "Is that realistic?"
A common goal for writers and filmmakers is to create authentic crime and legal elements in their stories. Would a prosecutor really do that? Would a witness be allowed to testify to this? Is this a correct use of a legal objection? Is that hearsay (and what exactly is "hearsay")?
There are of course a million variations to this question, and that is partly why I decided to offer criminal law consulting services to writers, producers and filmmakers who want to get it right. (Of course, poetic license allows you to discard reality and do whatever best suits the dramatic needs of your story. But even then, a writer should at least know the right way and make a conscious and informed decision to do things differently.)
If you have a question about whether a legal scene you're working on is realistic, contact me for a consultation.
A common goal for writers and filmmakers is to create authentic crime and legal elements in their stories. Would a prosecutor really do that? Would a witness be allowed to testify to this? Is this a correct use of a legal objection? Is that hearsay (and what exactly is "hearsay")?
There are of course a million variations to this question, and that is partly why I decided to offer criminal law consulting services to writers, producers and filmmakers who want to get it right. (Of course, poetic license allows you to discard reality and do whatever best suits the dramatic needs of your story. But even then, a writer should at least know the right way and make a conscious and informed decision to do things differently.)
If you have a question about whether a legal scene you're working on is realistic, contact me for a consultation.
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