A well-crafted legal brief can sway a judge—while a poorly written one feels like hacking through a jungle with a machete. What sets elite appellate advocates apart?
It keeps the reader's attention. One of the main goals of a good brief and something almost all judges say will give clients' their best chance at a successful outcome.
I would say it instills a reader to attend carefully: good writing, I believe, must capture that attention immediately … then surprise with eloquence and suasion.
Fascinating stuff, as usual. Writing well here involves both a love (and understanding) of law … AND the English language. Both craft and art.
Thanks. Another detour from daily politics.
A very welcome detour indeed.
I think we may have gotten Carter’s background wrong. He’s a Northwestern Law grad!
You're right. Thanks. This was in error. I think some wires were crossed in that section so I narrowed it down a bit.
Clement, Shanmugam, Blatt, Waxman—a virtual cornucopia of interesting names!
Writing well is a craft but a deceptive one. After all, only a few can write code (for example) but everyone can write English … if only a postcard.
Still, to write well … and elegantly … and persuasively is an art allowed only a few. These few deserve our highest respect.
It keeps the reader's attention. One of the main goals of a good brief and something almost all judges say will give clients' their best chance at a successful outcome.
I would say it instills a reader to attend carefully: good writing, I believe, must capture that attention immediately … then surprise with eloquence and suasion.