The Winning Brief

Does a good writing style help persuade judges? Bryan Garner makes a convincing case that it does. And he should know: in recent years, he has worked with judges all over the country to help them improve their writing of judicial opinions. He has polled judges both formally and informally to learn their preferences. And with his "deep issue" technique, he has even helped shape their preferences. This book is a compendium of Garner's 100 most important tips on brief-writing. Some are major points and some are minor ones. But each one matters because collectively they add up to the most compelling, orderly, and visually appealing brief that an advocate can present. Each tip begins with a set of quotable quotes - some of the most insightful comments that experts have ever made on persuasive writing. Then, Garner elaborates on the tip, usually with before-and-after examples. The book also showcases several full-length model briefs.