Writing Winning Skeleton Arguments

Introduction

This one day interactive course and workshop seeks to answer the question is it possible to win your case before arriving at the hearing, on the strength of your skeleton argument alone. Written advocacy expert, Andrew Goodman addresses the importance of skeleton arguments, what the judge really wants from a written argument and practical tips from the judge's viewpoint.

Using material privately obtained from judicial interviews and interactive exercises, Andrew will sharpen the skills required to produce genuinely persuasive writing which is clear, concise, coherent, structured intelligently, and formulated with a view to assisting the judge to solve the problem immediately to hand. The emphasis will be on applications for interim relief.

The morning will be spent on the rationale behind persuasive writing in skeleton arguments, providing examples drawn from real cases and practical tips for personal improvement.

In the afternoon there will be a workshop session focusing on case management interim applications, striking out and summary judgment, and interim relief.

What You Will Learn

This course is divided into two parts which will enable you to:

• Identify the techniques employed by the most successful advocates
• Analyse examples drawn from their practices
• Create a momentum with written argument that makes your case appear:
• Correct and
• Obvious and
• Irresistible
• Create a style for written advocacy in trial submissions and longer arguments by organising your thoughts, telling the tale, erecting signposts, and marshalling the arguments
• Understand the technique of persuasion in writing: how to organise, prepare and develop written persuasion
• Use effective literary skills
• Have confidence in the use of appropriate legal citation