Just Briefs, Second Edition

by Oates, Laurel Currie

• ISBN13: 9780735562318
• ISBN10: 0735562318
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-13
• Publisher: Wolters Kluwer

Summary

From the distinguished authors of the popular Legal Writing Handbook, Fourth Edition, comes this clear and focused treatment of briefs, In the authors' effective step-by-step writing style. Developed from the coverage on briefs from the authors' successful Legal Writing Handbook, this text includes: focused coverage on how to write briefs helpful examples of trial and appellate briefs how to present an effective oral argument straightforward, step-by-step exposition a detailed Teacher's Manual a valuable author website resource, featuring: materials on effective teaching sample class plans PowerPoint slides Suggested brief problems an on-line diagnostic exam available to professors who adopt the text Designed to complement any comprehensive legal writing coursebook, Just Briefs, Second Edition, provides clear and focused coverage of the writing techniques unique to creating effective briefs.

Author Biography

Laurel Currie Oates, Director, Legal Writing Program, Seattle University School of Law Anne Enquist, Associate Director, Legal Writing Program, Seattle University School of Law Connie Krontz, Legal Writing Professor, Seattle University School of Law

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xvii
Acknowledgments	p. xix
Writing a Trial Brief	p. 1
Motion Briefs	p. 1
Audience	p. 1
Purpose	p. 2
Conventions	p. 2
State v. Patterson	p. 2
Developing a Theory of the Case	p. 2
The Caption	p. 3
The Statement of Facts	p. 10
Select the Facts	p. 10
Background Facts	p. 10
Legally Significant Facts	p. 10
Emotionally Significant Facts	p. 10
Select an Organizational Scheme	p. 11
Present the Facts	p. 11
Create a Favorable Context	p. 11
Tell the Story from the Client's Point of View	p. 13
Emphasize the Facts that Support Your Theory of the Case, and De-emphasize Those that Do Not	p. 14
Airtime	p. 14
Detail	p. 15
Positions of Emphasis	p. 16
Sentence Length	p. 17
Active and Passive Voice	p. 18
Dependent and Main Clauses	p. 18
Choose Your Words Carefully	p. 19
Checklist for Critiquing the Statement of Facts	p. 20
Drafting the Issue Statement	p. 21
Select the Lens	p. 21
Select a Format	p. 21
Make Your Issue Statement Subtly Persuasive	p. 23
Checklist for Critiquing the Issue Statement	p. 24
Ordering the Issues and Arguments	p. 25
Present the Issues and Arguments in a Logical Order	p. 25
Decide Which Issues and Arguments Should Be Presented First	p. 26
Drafting the Argumentative Headings	p. 26
Use Your Argumentative Headings to Define the Structure of the Arguments	p. 26
Use Your Argumentative Headings to Persuade	p. 27
Make Your Headings Readable	p. 29
Follow the Conventions: Number, Placement, and Typefaces	p. 29
Checklist for Critiquing the Argumentative Headings	p. 31
Drafting the Arguments	p. 31
Identify Your Assertions and Your Support for Those Assertions	p. 32
Setting Out Your Assertion	p. 32
Supporting Your Assertion	p. 32
Select an Organizational Scheme	p. 34
Present the Rules in the Light Most Favorable to Your Client	p. 38
Present the Cases in the Light Most Favorable to Your Client	p. 41
Present the Arguments in the Light Most Favorable to Your Client	p. 43
Present Your Own Arguments First	p. 43
Give the Most Airtime to Your Own Arguments	p. 44
Use Language that Strengthens Your Arguments and Undermines the Other Side's Arguments	p. 44
Use the Same Persuasive Techniques You Used in Setting Out the Facts, Issues, Rules, and Analogous Cases	p. 45
Checklist for Critiquing the Argument	p. 45
The Prayer for Relief	p. 47
Signing the Brief	p. 47
Defendant's Brief	p. 49
State's Brief	p. 59
Writing an Appellate Brief	p. 67
Practicing Before an Appellate Court	p. 68
Types of Appellate Review	p. 68
Time Limits for Filing the Notice of Appeal or Petition for Discretionary Review	p. 69
The Notice of Appeal or Notice for Discretionary Review	p. 69
Scope of Review	p. 69
The Record on Appeal	p. 70
Types of Briefs	p. 71
Understanding Your Audience, Your Purpose, and the Conventions	p. 71
Audience	p. 71
Purpose	p. 73
Conentions	p. 73
Getting the Case: United States v. Josephy	p. 74
Preparing to Write the Brief	p. 76
Reviewing the Record for Error	p. 76
Selecting the Issues on Appeal	p. 78
Was There an Error?	p. 78
Was the Error Preserved?	p. 79
What Is the Standard of Review?	p. 79
Was the Error Harmless?	p. 80
Preparing an Abstract of the Record	p. 82
Preparing the Record on Appeal	p. 83
Researching the Issues on Appeal	p. 83
Planning the Brief	p. 84
Analyzing the Facts and the Law	p. 84
Developing a Theory of the Case	p. 85
Selecting an Organizational Scheme	p. 87
Deciding on the Number of Issues and Headings	p. 87
Ordering the Issues and Arguments	p. 91
Preparing the Cover	p. 92
Preparing the Table of Contents	p. 92
Preparing the Table of Authorities	p. 93
Drafting the Jurisdictional Statement	p. 93
Drafting the Statement of Issues Presented for Review	p. 94
Select a Format	p. 95
Make the Issue Statement Subtly Persuasive	p. 96
State the Question So that It Suggests the Conclusion You Want the Court to Reach	p. 96
Emphasize the Facts that Support Your Theory of the Case	p. 98
Emphasize or De-emphasize the Burden of Proof and Standard of Review	p. 99
Make Sure the Issue Statement Is Readable	p. 100
Drafting the Statement of the Case	p. 100
Check the Rules	p. 100
Draft the Statement of the Case	p. 101
Select the Facts	p. 102
Legally Significant Facts	p. 102
Emotionally Significant Facts	p. 102
Background Facts	p. 102
Select an Organizational Scheme	p. 103
Present the Facts in the Light Most Favorable to the Client	p. 103
Create a Favorable Context	p. 104
Tell the Story from the Client's Point of View	p. 106
Emphasize Those Facts that Support Your Theory of the Case and De-emphasize Those that Do Not	p. 108
Choose Words Carefully	p. 115
Be Subtly Persuasive	p. 116
Drafting the Summary of the Argument	p. 116
Drafting the Argumentative Headings	p. 117
Use the Argumentative Headings to Outline the Argument for the Court	p. 117
Use the Argumentative Headings to Persuade	p. 118
Write Headings as Positive Assertions	p. 118
Provide Support for Your Assertions	p. 119
Make Sure that Your Headings Are Neither Too Specific nor Too General	p. 121
Make Your Headings Readable	p. 121
Use the Same Persuasive Techniques You Used in Drafting the Issue Statements and Statement of Facts	p. 123
Use the Conventional Formats for Headings	p. 123
Drafting the Arguments	p. 124
Knowing What You Need, and Want, to Argue	p. 124
Selecting an Organizational Scheme	p. 125
Presenting the Rules, Descriptions of Analogous Cases, and Arguments in the Light Most Favorable to Your Client	p. 130
Presenting the Rules	p. 130
Presenting the Cases	p. 132
Constructing and Presenting the Arguments	p. 140
Using Quotations	p. 142
Responding to the Other Side's Arguments	p. 144
Avoiding the Common Problem of Neglecting to Make Explicit Connections	p. 148
Avoiding the Common Problem of Not Dealing with Weaknesses	p. 150
Avoiding the Mistake of Overlooking Good Arguments	p. 151
Drafting the Conclusion or Prayer for Relief	p. 151
Preparing the Signature Block	p. 152
Preparing the Appendix	p. 153
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading	p. 153
Appellant's Brief	p. 155
Appellee's Brief	p. 183
Harmless Error Analysis Example	p. 202
Oral Advocacy	p. 207
Audience	p. 207
Purpose	p. 208
Preparing for Oral Argument	p. 208
Deciding What to Argue	p. 208
Preparing an Outline	p. 209
Practicing the Argument	p. 209
Reviewing the Facts and the Law	p. 209
Organizing Your Materials	p. 210
Notes or Outline	p. 210
The Briefs	p. 210
The Record	p. 210
The Law	p. 210
Courtroom Procedures and Etiquette	p. 210
Seating	p. 210
Before the Case Is Called	p. 211
Courtroom Etiquette	p. 211
Appropriate Dress	p. 211
Making the Argument	p. 211
Introductions	p. 212
Opening	p. 212
Statement of the Issues	p. 213
The Moving Party	p. 213
The Responding Party	p. 213
Summary of Facts	p. 213
The Moving Party	p. 213
The Responding Party	p. 214
The Argument	p. 214
Answering Questions	p. 215
The Closing	p. 216
Rebuttal	p. 216
Delivering the Argument	p. 217
Do Not Read Your Argument	p. 217
Maintain Eye Contact	p. 217
Do Not Slouch, Rock, or Put Your Hands in Your Pockets	p. 218
Limit Your Gestures and Avoid Distracting Mannerisms	p. 218
Speak So that You Can Be Easily Understood	p. 218
Making Your Argument Persuasive	p. 218
Handling the Problems	p. 219
Counsel Has Misstated Facts or Law	p. 219
You Make a Mistake	p. 219
You Do Not Have Enough Time	p. 219
You Have Too Much Time	p. 220
You Do Not Know the Answer to a Question	p. 220
You Do Not Understand the Question	p. 220
You Become Flustered or Draw a Blank	p. 221
You Are Asked to Concede a Point	p. 221
A Final Note	p. 221
Checklist for Critiquing the Oral Argument	p. 221
Glossary of Terms	p. 225
Index	p. 231
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