Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation's Top Advocates
June 2010
Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation's Top Advocate
Program Highlights
Many litigators write well. But how many write like Elena Kagan, Seth Waxman, Walter Dellinger, Ted Olson, Maureen Mahoney, Eric Holder, David Boies, John Roberts, or Brendan Sullivan?
If you want to get closer to the top, this new workshop will give you specific ways to do so.
In three hours, you'll go on a fast-paced tour of the best practices in advocacy writing.
Program Description
After reviewing more than 500 motions and briefs from the most prominent advocates, Ross Guberman identified the following techniques:
- Three ingredients for a compelling introduction
- Nine ways to add interest to your sentences
- The best way to draft headings
- How to structure sections in opening briefs and in replies or oppositions
- How to integrate case law
- Two ways to use parentheticals
- The best way to introduce block quotes
- How to make your prose flow
- How to use examples and analogies
- Three ways to make fact sections more compelling and persuasive
Examples come from dozens of advocates, dozens of trial and appellate filings, and specialties ranging from intellectual property to antitrust and criminal law.
In three hours, you'll go on a fast-paced tour of the best practices in advocacy writing. The program is also a sneak peak at Ross' upcoming book for Oxford University Press.
Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:45 am
Distilling the Brief into a Winning Message
9:45 - 10:45 am
Finding a More Natural Voice
10:45 - 11:00 am
Networking Break
11:00 - 11:45 am
Structuring Sections as a Dialogue
11:45 - 12:00 pm
Drafting More Compelling Facts
12:00 pm
Adjourn
Faculty
Ross Guberman
President, Legal Writing Pro LLC
McLean, VA
About Our Faculty
Ross Guberman is the founder and president of Legal Writing Pro, an advanced legal-writing training and consulting firm. He conducts hundreds of programs a year for many of the world's largest and most prestigious law firms and for dozens of state and federal agencies and bar associations.
Ross is also a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, where he teaches an advanced seminar on drafting and writing strategy.
He holds degrees from Yale, the Sorbonne, and The University of Chicago Law School, where he was Articles Editor of The University of Chicago Legal Forum.
Oxford University Press has asked Ross to write the first book on how the nation's top advocates draft winning briefs and motions.
Before founding Legal Writing Pro, Ross worked at several major law firms. Ross is also a former professional musician and an award-winning journalist. After the federal takeover of Fannie Mae, Slate called his 2002 investigation of the company “totally brilliant and prescient.”
Ross has also commented on business and law for major newspapers, radio stations, and television networks, including CBS and CNN.
The American Society for Training & Development has awarded Ross its Certified Professional in Learning and Performance credential.
A Minnesota native, Ross lives with his wife and two children outside Washington, DC.
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $209.00 |
| CBA | $189.00 |
| CBA | $149.00 |
| New Lawyer | $149.00 |
- General Credits: 3.00
- Ethics Credits:
- EDI Credits:
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