Persuasive Written and Oral Advocacy: In Trial and Appellate Courts

While focused on the appellate setting, Persuasive Written and Oral Advocacy is applicable to all legal writing and speaking, and includes practical guidance for advocacy in federal courts, trial courts, and other situations. Students are given a clear and practical guide to legal writing and oral argument, from the selection of a main theme, to the employment of research, language, and speaking skills that achieve a clear, persuasive legal message. Step-by-step, they learn to organize, prepare, and present winning written and oral arguments. Detailed coverage of trial motion practice as well as appellate practice shows how important it is to consider the judge's time and perspective when preparing an argument. Concrete examples based on a hypothetical case file are liberally spread throughout the text along with extensive advice for editing. Sophisticated, realistic litigation problems in the accompanying Case Files help put principles in practice and allow instructors a great deal of flexibility. Technological developments are explored, including electronic filing and electronic research.

New to the Second Edition:

• Revisions to Supreme Court Rules and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
• Updated use and citation of literature
• Additional advice on achieving writing and speaking goals

Professors and students will benefit from:

• The book explains "how to" achieve effective briefs and argument.
• Examples make the advice concrete rather than abstract.
• The book provides extensive review and citation of advice from judges and practitioners.
• Organization permits teachers to select material as appropriate for class needs.