From the all-important brief ? concise, comprehensive and effectively written ? to the delivery of powerful oral arguments, a lawyer?s success depends on his or her ability to communicate. As cases are increasingly decided out of the courtroom ?on papers submitted,? accurate and persuasive writing is more critical to a successful outcome than ever before.In its ninth edition, Brief Writing and Oral Argument has been revised and updated to keep your students ahead of the most pressing trends in legal writing and research. Revised throughout to integrate information on electronic legal research, this classic text sets the standard in practical advice from experts in the field of law who understand the legal system from behind the bench and before the court. A new section on legal writing further highlights the significance of written documents in the courtroom today. Distinguished judge and teacher Edward D. Re and award-winning litigator Joseph R. Re lead the reader through each step of constructing a written or oral argument, highlighting and addressing the nuances of trial practice as only a veteran judge and leading lawyer can. In print and continuously updated since its original publication in 1951, this is a book that your students will keep with them long after they have left the classroom. Useful appendices contain illustrative examples of legal documents attorneys will be required to prepare, including many that are easily adaptable for legal writing exercises. Sections on the mechanics of drafting a brief ? from learning proper citation methods to proofreaders? marks and proper word usage ? make this handbook a vital reference for students and lawyers alike.