Strategic Legal Writing: Preparing Persuasive Documents

  • March 31, 2015

PURCHASE

Publication | Archived Video

DESCRIPTION

Writing in a strategic way is as critical as oral advocacy, and is fast becoming an absolute foundation for solving and winning legal disputes. This popular program will teach you how to:

  • Write in a tactical and winning way
  • Move beyond reliance on boilerplate precedents (including “before/during/after” examples)

Learn what the Court expects, what works and what doesn't, and get expert guidance from senior trial and appellate counsel on how to write and win in a practical, strategic, and focused way.

  • “Positioning”—What the ad agencies do
  • Avoiding legalese in legal writing
  • Think tactically, write strategically
  • Avoiding “Not”
  • The basics of good legal writing
  • Acronyms
  • Know the purpose for your writing
  • Thinking like a judge
  • Reader-friendly writing
  • Case law—give the court a break
  • Run-on sentences and big words
  • Adverse authority
  • Writing with colour
  • Opening—the first impression
  • Writing visually
  • Being realistic not academic
  • Telling a story
  • Useful headings
  • Making the story work
  • Taking the high ground
  • Writing for the reader
  • Being creative
  • Stay in the present
  • Limiting the issues
  • Crafting your facts
  • Building around your theme
  • The analogy
  • Long paragraphs, the one-breath rule
  • Being realistic, there is another side
  • Letting go of the little stuff
  • Being credible
  • Conclusions—making sure there is one


PROGRAM CHAIRS

Eugene Meehan, Q.C., Supreme Advocacy LLP

PROGRAM SPEAKERS

The Honourable Madam Justice Gladys Pardu, Court of Appeal for Ontario
Barbara Legate, Legate & Associates