Legal Methods II: Methods of Persuasion

This course will provide an introduction to the methods of persuasion that are at the core of a lawyer's work. Persuasion involves the use of fact, law, and policy to communicate the lawyer's ideas and goals and those of the lawyer's clients effectively. Persuasion occurs in all domestic and international practice contexts, and each context requires an understanding of the relevant audience and the persuasive methods best suited to that audience. The course will be conducted through a combination of classroom sessions and small group work. Students will be assigned to practice groups before the course begins, and the groups will meet to examine and experiment with persuasive methods relevant to these practice contexts. As a final project for the course, the students will use these case materials to produce either a written document (e.g. a portion of a brief or arbitration memorandum) or a video-recorded oral presentation (e.g. an argument or negotiation session) demonstrating persuasive methods relevant to their group's practice context. The final projects may be completed individually or collaboratively.