Effective Legal Writing 2024

  • OnDemand seminar
  • Legal Research and Writing
  • New Lawyer
View schedule and faculty
Effective Legal Writing 2024

Write on

It’s a given that writing is one of the most important skills legal professionals need to be successful. Although legal writing may involve subject matter not everyone is dying to read, that doesn’t mean your writing should be boring. Do you know how to take your writing from drab to fab?

Effective Legal Writing 2024 is full of practical, easily implemented tips designed to help you transform your text. It’s your opportunity to learn from superstar legal writers, including:

  • Nationally recognized brief writer and author of the legendary “Hip Hop Brief,” Chad Baruch
  • Joseph A. Bugni, winner of the 2016, 2020, and 2022 “Best Briefs Competition” held by the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin
  • Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District II Judge Maria S. Lazar, an experienced appellate judge who has seen it all when it comes to legal writing
8:30 am
Do the Write Thing: Better Legal Writing from the Basics to A Bit of the Ol’ Razzle Dazzle

Chad Baruch

  • Grabbing the Court’s Attention with Strong Introductions
  • Making Everything Shorter
  • Using Actions Verbs and Powerful Sentences
  • Making Your Writing Fun to Read
9:30 am
Making your Briefs Beautiful—Using Tables, Pictures, Fonts, and Graphs to Persuade the Court

Joseph A. Bugni

  • Understand when and why to use pictures, charts, tables, and graphs effectively to support your arguments and make them more compelling
  • Considerations when selecting a font, including hard breaks, and other details
  • Additional resources that an attorney can study to take command of the process
10:30 am
Break
10:45 am
Taking it to the Next Level: Appellate Briefs

Hon. Maria S. Lazar

  • An Appendix can be your best friend
  • Practice pointers – including what NOT to do
  • When to chime in again – supplemental briefs and authorities
11:45 am
Program Concludes

Presenters

Chad Baruch
Johnston, Tobey, Baruch PC · Dallas, TX
Joseph A. Bugni
Hurley Burish, S.C. · Madison
Hon. Maria S. Lazar
Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II · Waukesha

  • Discover methods for improving your legal writing that you can implement right away
  • Make your writing easier to read and understand
  • Draft more compelling, persuasive briefs that hold the court’s attention
  • Avoid common legal writing mistakes
  • Pick up techniques for making your appellate briefs visually appealing
  • Gain access to materials and guides on document design
  • All attorneys
  • Appellate practitioners
  • Litigators
  • New lawyers
  • Law clerks
  • Law students
  • Paralegals

Book Bonus!

Wisconsin Guide to Citation
Save 15% on Wisconsin Guide to Citation.* Format citations in documents submitted to Wisconsin courts and administrative agencies correctly with this handy practical resource. Use discount code CA3725 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/25. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

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