Chad Baruch
Johnston, Tobey, Baruch PC
Dallas, TX
Joseph A. Bugni
Hurley Burish, S.C.
Madison
Hon. Sara J. Geenen
Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
Milwaukee
8:30 am Tips for Powerful Motions and Briefs
- Using introductions strategically
- Mastering verb choice, sentence structure, and paragraph transitions
- Bells and whistles like bullet points, the em-dash, and more
Chad Baruch
9:30 am The Reply Brief: The Most Vexing of all Briefs to Write
- This give exposure to some tips on the structure and approach to a well-crafted reply brief, including
o the way to outline and consider the brief
o the way to ensure it's not a repeat of the opening brief
o the way to ensure it is the last and most persuasive word in the case.
Joseph A. Bugni
10:40 am Break
10:55 am A Brief* Perspective from the Bench: Improving Effectiveness by Minimizing Distractions
- Overview of Court of Appeals
- Review of the rules, Rule 809.19
- Avoid distractions in your writing:
o Consider whether the body of your brief, alone, contains enough info to keep the reader 1) interested, 2) reading, and 3) on track
o Exclude irrelevant information that just begs for questions
o Include major facts
o Maintain credibility
Hon. Sara J. Geenen
11:45 am Program Concludes
- Strengthen your advocacy with briefs that hold a judge’s attention from the first sentence to the last
- Sharpen your writing style to present arguments more clearly and persuasively
- Receive tips on the structure and approach to a well-crafted reply brief
- Use tools like bullet points to highlight key arguments without distracting from your message
- Transform everyday motions and briefs into powerful advocacy tools
- New lawyers
- Appellate lawyers
- Litigators
- Law clerks
- Law students
- Paralegals
- Anyone looking to improve their legal writing skills
Book Bonus!
Wisconsin Guide to Citation
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