The Impact of Communication Styles on Legal Outcomes

Kakembo Aisha Annet

Faculty of Education, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

Legal proceedings are fundamentally communicative events in which attorneys, judges, litigants, and jurors co‑create meaning under conditions of stress, power imbalance, and cultural diversity. Drawing on interpersonal communication theory, forensic rhetoric, and empirical studies of courtroom behavior, this paper examines how verbal, non‑verbal, and written styles influence comprehension, credibility assessments, and ultimately the decisions that courts reach. We argue that clarity, alignment of mental models, and culturally sensitive messaging reduce cognitive load for lay participants and help equalize structural asymmetries. Conversely, mismatched conversational cues whether imprecise language, conflicting non‑verbal signals, or inaccessible legal jargon exacerbate misunderstandings, prolong proceedings, and can bias sentencing and liability determinations. Mixed‑method case studies (including experimental vignettes testing risk‑communication formats and analyses of real‑world appellate transcripts) demonstrate measurable shifts in judicial recommendations when identical facts are delivered through different communicative frames. Building on these findings, we propose a multidimensional framework for strategic style selection that accounts for context, audience capacity, and desired persuasive goals, and we outline training interventions ranging from rhetorical skills workshops to cross‑cultural competence modules to institutionalize more effective legal dialogue.

Keywords: verbal and non‑verbal communication · courtroom discourse · legal decision‑making · risk communication formats · cultural competence.

CITE AS: Kakembo Aisha Annet (2025). The Impact of Communication Styles on Legal Outcomes. IDOSR JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION AND ENGLISH 10(1):58-63. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JCE/101.5863.20250000