Making Your Case

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Making Your Case Brochure

This seminar is based on Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges, the 2008 book by Justice Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner. Drawing on copious literature — the recorded thoughts of great lawyers throughout history — the book systematically answers the age-old question: How do effective advocates persuade courts to decide cases in favor of their clients?

The seminar examines 115 enduring principles divided into four broad categories. Participants learn:

  • How valuable the general principles of argumentation are, especially how critical it is to concentrate your fire and control the semantic playing field
  • How to use the age-old principles of syllogistic reasoning to build a compelling argument
  • How to organize your brief-writing project, know the best approaches for each part of the brief, and employ effective writing skills to create a product that will interest — not repel — judges
  • How to prepare for and succeed at the lectern by knowing your case forward and backward and by appreciating the opportunity that questioning gives you to engage judges in conversation

The seminar includes a hardbound copy of Making Your Case, which will be a valuable reference long after the seminar is over.

YouTube Video - Making Your Case

YouTube Video - Awarding Justice Scalia the Lifetime Achievement Award

Schedule
12:30-1:00 Registration
1:00-1:30 General Principles of Argumentation
1:30-2:00 Persuasive Legal Reasoning
2:00-2:30 Effective Oral Argument

Summer 2012

  • June 2012

    • Seattle, WA Register Now Monday, June 4

      The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University St., Seattle, WA 98101
      206-621-1700

    • Kansas City, MO Register Now Monday, June 11

      InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, 401 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64112
      816-756-1500

    • Atlanta, GA Register Now Thursday, June 14

      W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30361
      404-892-6000

    • Nashville, TN Register Now Monday, June 18

      The Hermitage Hotel, 231 Sixth Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37219
      615-244-3121

    • San Francisco, CA Register Now Thursday, June 21

      The San Francisco Fairmont, 950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108
      415-772-5000

    • Washington DC, Register Now Monday, June 25

      W Washington D.C., 515 15th Street NW, Washington DC, 20004
      202-661-2400

    • New York, NY Register Now Tuesday, June 26

      The Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, 36 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
      212-371-4000

    • Los Angeles, CA Register Now Friday, June 29

      Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza, 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
      213-617-3300

  • July 2012

    • New Orleans, LA Register Now Thursday, July 12

      W New Orleans, 333 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
      504-525-9444

  • August 2012

    • Dallas, TX Register Now Tuesday, August 7

      The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75201
      214-922-0200

LawProse Policy on CLE Credit

LawProse applies for accreditation in those states where we conduct live public LawProse seminars. Where state bars require it, we submit attendees’ names as they are listed on the sign-in sheet on the day of the seminar. If you are seeking CLE credit for a state other than where that seminar is being held, please apply directly to the appropriate state bar.