Training & Consulting
Training in Persuasive Legal Writing; Consulting on Brief Writing and Appellate Strategy
Group Training
Group training is suitable for multiple participants from one law firm or bar association.
The first hour is devoted to developing empathy for the reader, explaining the importance of clarity and the value of brevity, simplicity, continuity, and specificity. Examples and exercises drive these points home.
The second hour is devoted to acquiring the writing and editing skills to produce a
document with clear headings, paragraphs, and sentences that embody brevity, simplicity,
continuity, and specificity. Examples and exercises demonstrate how participants can
write and edit to create the clarity that judges seek in legal writing.
Individual Training
Individual training is offered in eight one-hour sessions. The first four hours are
devoted to the writing principles in the manual, “Persuasive Legal Writing.”
The second four hours are devoted to editing legal documents to manifest the four components of clarity: brevity, simplicity,
continuity, and specificity.
Consulting on Appellate Strategy
Mr. Smith offers clients the benefits of his 40 years as a Certified Appellate Specialist, representing clients in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, and California’s Courts of Appeals. His consulting services address strategies for post-trial motions, notice of appeal and cross-appeal, designation of record, briefs, oral argument, and mediation to achieve the strongest position for the lawyer’s client.
Because Mr. Smith is retired, he does not offer legal advice and is not responsible for the ultimate content of any filing or for compliance with procedural rules and deadlines.
Consulting on Your Brief
Mr. Smith consults on the organization and editing of your brief. On organization, Mr. Smith will assist you in sequencing the sections of your brief in the order that will answer the judge's questions as they arise.
Typically, the first section is comprised of “Introduction,” “Issues Presented” and “Summary of Argument.” The second section presents the “Procedural History” to the extent necessary. The third section is the “Statement of Facts,” and the fourth section is the “Argument.”
Regarding editing, Mr. Smith will conform your draft’s headings, paragraphs, and sentences to the four persuasive writing principles advocated in “Persuasive Legal Writing”—brevity, simplicity, continuity, and specificity.