What Do I Do With My Hands? (The Truth About Gestures in Court)

If you’ve ever asked yourself—
“What do I do with my hands when I’m presenting?”
—trust me, you’re not alone.

Many trial attorneys wrestle with this question. Stillness can feel safer than risking awkward gestures. But here’s the reality:

👉 Gestures aren’t decoration.
👉 They are part of your message.
👉 And they directly affect how jurors process, encode, and remember what you say.

Let’s break down why—and how to make gestures work for you instead of against you.

The Science Behind Gestures

Humans don’t just listen with our ears—we listen with our eyes.

Our brains process information better when multiple senses are activated at once. This is dual coding theory:

• Words deliver meaning.

• Gestures visually reinforce that meaning.

• The brain encodes the message twice—making it more memorable.

Think of gestures as punctuation for your speech. Just as commas, exclamation points, and bold text guide a reader, gestures guide your jury through your case.

But here’s the catch: gestures that are random, distracting, or contradictory don’t just fail to help…they can actually hurt your credibility.

Gestures That Work Against You

Here are the most common offenders I see in courtrooms:

• Contradictory gestures → Saying “this is straightforward” while scribbling in the air. Jurors’ eyes and ears don’t match, so trust breaks.

• Micro-gestures / fidgeting → Rubbing fingers, adjusting cuffs, cracking knuckles. Reads as distraction and nervousness.

• Over-grabbing / clawing → Repetitive clenching, reaching, or grabbing at jurors. Feels like “taking,” not “giving.”

• Closed-off gestures → Hands in pockets, arms crossed, clasped hands. Signals withholding or secrecy.

• Choppy movements → Dropping hands mid-thought or cutting off gestures too soon. Fractures jurors’ comprehension.

• Over-animation → Hands flying nonstop, like conducting an orchestra. Your words get lost in the show.

• Self-soothing gestures → Touching hair or face. Communicates anxiety, not confidence.

• Pointing / jabbing → Aggressive, hostile, shuts jurors down.

Key takeaway: gestures aren’t neutral. They either support your message—or sabotage it.

How to Make Gestures Work for You

Here’s how to align your gestures with your advocacy:

• Think of gestures as visual punctuation. Use them to highlight key words, outline sequences, or illustrate size/scope.

• Make gestures deliberate, sustained, and aligned. Carry them through the “cognitive chunk” of your argument.

• Use variation. Balance authoritative gestures (palms down) with open gestures (palms up). Too much of either can backfire.

• Match voice and body. As communication expert Vinh Giang says: “Our body moves our voice, and our voice moves our body.” When both work together, your message lands with precision and impact.

The Courtroom Takeaway

Gestures are not an afterthought. They’re not decoration. They’re integral to persuasion.

When you move with intention:

• You don’t just look confident—you are confident.

• Jurors don’t just hear your case—they see it.

• And they remember more of what you say.

So the next time you step into court, don’t ask:
❌ “What do I do with my hands?”

Ask:
✅ “How can my hands help tell this story?”

Because when your voice and your body align, you don’t just communicate. You connect.