Legal Writing and Practical Advocacy Skills
Legal writing
Good legal writing is structured, precise, and reasoned. Master the anatomy of procedural documents: claim, response, appeal, cassation complaint, and motions. Each should identify the parties, state the facts, cite the legal basis, apply the law to the facts, and state a clear request. Use IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) or CREAC for analysis.
Advocacy skills
Know how to conduct client interviews, draft contracts, prepare evidence, and present oral argument. Understand examination-in-chief, cross-examination, and re-examination, and the rules on objections. Prepare a case theory and a chronology.
Traps
Frequent traps: writing facts without legal characterization; citing norms without applying them; and drafting requests that the court cannot grant. Another trap is failing to respect procedural deadlines and formal requirements (signatures, annexes, copies).
Worked example
A claim for debt recovery: Issue - is the debt due? Rule - contract and Civil Code on obligations. Application - attach the contract, delivery notes, and demand letter; show performance and non-payment. Conclusion - request principal, interest, and costs. Note the limitation period and court fee.
Rule of thumb
Every paragraph should either state a fact, cite a rule, or draw an inference. If it does none, delete it.