SKILL ROADMAP 15 · CORE LEGAL SKILLS

Legal Argumentation

Structure → Authority → Counterarguments → Persuasion → Oral and written argument

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This roadmap has 5 steps, 5 checkpoints and 2 projects.
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1 What this path is

Legal argumentation is the skill of building a reasoned case for a position and defending it against the other side.

Litigators, mooters, arbitration lawyers, policy writers and anyone who needs to persuade.

Structure an argument.
Learn: to state your conclusion, give your reasons and support each reason with authority.
Practise: by writing a one page argument on a simple issue.
Use authority well.
Learn: to choose the strongest authorities and explain why they apply.
Practise: by ranking five authorities for one argument by strength.
Anticipate the other side.
Learn: to find the weaknesses in your argument and respond to them.
Practise: by arguing both sides of one issue.
Persuade.
Learn: how framing, order and tone affect persuasion.
Practise: by rewriting an argument to lead with your strongest point.
Argue orally and in writing.
Learn: to adapt arguments for written submissions and oral hearings.
Practise: through moots and trial advocacy exercises.

You build and defend arguments that hold up before courts, tribunals or decision makers.

These checklists are for honest self assessment. They are not an official certification.

Litigation and arbitration chambers. Ask to help prepare argument notes.

Submissions, moot memorials and argument notes.