This chapter focuses on advocacy skills required during academia and in practice. The section on academia considers persuasive oral communication and confidence. It provides guidance on how to succeed both in mooting and in criminal advocacy competitions. It examines how to undertake effective case analysis using the IRAC model, and how to prepare skeleton arguments and case bundles. Examples of skeleton arguments are provided. The section on professional advocacy considers professional roles, rights of audience, areas of practice and activities. It covers practicalities such as etiquette, dress, conduct and ethics. The progress made towards a move to digital courts is also explored.
Chapter
13. Advocacy and mooting
Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild, and Catherine Shephard
Chapter
23. Preparing a Case for Trial and Drafting Skeleton Arguments
This chapter first discusses the importance of the trial date. A period within which the trial should take place (a three-week window) is usually set on allocation even if the precise date is not fixed, so that a focus for litigation is set quite soon after issue. Although the court may show flexibility in reviewing preparations for trial, a trial date will rarely be moved and only for very good reason. The second section outlines the pre-trial review process, covering pre-trial checklists, statements of case, attendance of witnesses, expert evidence, trial date and directions, and preparing trial bundles. The third section deals with preparations for the trial, including the development of trial strategy and preparing to deal with witnesses. The final section discusses skeleton arguments.
Chapter
13. Advocacy and mooting
Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild, and Catherine Shephard
This chapter focuses on advocacy, mooting, and communication skills. The section on advocacy skills considers the preparation and use of skeleton arguments and case bundles.
