Thread by @legalwritingpro

Someone tipped me off to a superb
@KannonShanmugam merits brief in Jackson v. United States.

Want to write even better briefs? Here are eight ways to follow that lead.

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#appellatetwitter #legaltech #legalwriting #scotus

1. Craft your Table of Contents/headings so that each level of heading or subheading functions as a syllogism that proves a larger point.

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2. Introduce your client or position with well-chosen nouns and verbs. Subtle narrative choices here put the defendant/petitioner in the best possible light.

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3. See that blockbuster 98/100 #BriefCatch "Crispy and Punchy" Score? It's no accident.

Favor short, punchy words like these and logical signposts to make for a smoother, faster ride.

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4. Examples are priceless—but only if the court sees the link without having to work.

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5. Quoted language is a means to an end. Favor short snippets, and let your own points and facts dominate.

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6. Help your points and sections cohere by linking the start of one paragraph with something the reader will remember from the paragraph before.

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7. When you use the "Why Should I Care?" technique, as I describe it in Point Made, anchor your "parade of horribles" in your legal analysis.

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8. Stay classy. There's a gulf between "That was mistaken" and "The Court was clearly wrong."

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Bonus tip:

To vary your sentence structure, shake loose from this pattern: "Someone noted/observed/stated that something."

could have helped even this rockstar brief in that regard. Want to take your writing to the next level? your draft today!

10/10

#legaltech #appellatetwitterBriefCatch.com
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