Persuasive Advocacy in Action

Persuasive Advocacy in Action: A Workbook for Law Students is designed with a singular focus: to help students hone their skills in persuasive legal writing and oral advocacy. As students navigate through its pages, they will encounter a rich tapestry of core principles, practical insights, and hands-on exercises tailored to elevate their prowess in crafting persuasive legal arguments, constructing well-reasoned briefs and other persuasive documents, and delivering compelling oral arguments. Through a blend of focused explanations and interactive exercises, this workbook empowers students to navigate the complexities of legal advocacy with confidence.

The introduction summarizes the key differences between predictive and persuasive legal writing and gives students an overview of how the workbook is organized. Chapter 1 reviews the state and federal court systems. Chapter 2 discusses strategies for writing shorter persuasive documents. Chapters 3–8 cover the components of trial and appellate briefs. Chapter 9 walks students through the steps in the writing process, from pre-writing to proofreading the final document, and Chapter 10 covers the key aspects of effective oral argument.

Each chapter includes exercises students can complete, either as part of their legal skills instruction or independently, to practice the skills covered in the chapter. The workbook also contains appendices with complete case files that can serve as the basis for persuasive writing assignments.