Welcome to the launch of Gallien Law’s Brief Write blog! To celebrate, I’m kicking things off with a special seven-day series called Brief Write’s Brief Bites. This complementary series is designed to sharpen your legal writing skills with a focus on brief etiquette—because how you present your legal arguments matters as much as the arguments themselves.
Brief Write’s Brief Bites
Sorry, I don’t have cheesecake bites to offer. But just like proper table manners enhance a meal, proper brief etiquette enhances your legal writing. Those little cubes of heaven are divine, but even the tastiest treats can leave a sour taste in your mouth if you’re sharing the table with an ill-mannered guest. Legal briefs are no different. If you don’t mind your manners, those you serve will be left with an unpleasant taste in their mouth.
Thanks for joining me for Brief Write’s Brief Bites! Over the next seven days, I’ll share the top seven brief etiquette tips to help ensure your writing is palatable and persuasive for the court. Here’s what’s on the menu:
- Serve fresh food
This Brief Bite is more a hostess rule than table etiquette, but it is noteworthy and applicable. Nobody likes stale food. What’s worse than stale bread? Old caselaw. Don’t make the judge or his research clerk go on a wild-goose chase to determine if the 1950’s case you cited is applicable today.
2. Gloves off
Litigation is typically adversarial in nature. Attorneys wear tough nicknames like Bulldog as a badge of honor. But the one area of litigation where your boxing gloves are not needed is in your legal briefs. Keep your hands clean and be respectful of the Court and opposing counsel. As a result, your brief will be more appetizing.
3. Elbows off the table
Although this table etiquette’s origins are murky, it is clear that part of its reasoning is proper posture. Establishing legal posture—by ensuring your legal briefs are appropriately timed—is just as important as proper posture at the dinner table.
4. Wait until everyone is served
You don’t dive into your lasagna before everyone’s plate is ready; similarly, you don’t dive into legal arguments before the Court has been appropriately served with the facts of the case. With any legal pleading, laying the proper foundation is everything.
5. Pass the salt
Reaching for food and condiments is a faux pas because you might knock something over. Similarly, strained arguments (not rooted in fact or law) can undermine your brief.
6. Use utensils wisely
During formal meals, how you hold or place your utensils convey a message to your server and others at the table. In similar fashion, if you are improperly using briefing tools, your reader will get the wrong message.
7. Pace yourself
Have you ever seen someone shovel large amounts of food into their mouth? If so, you likely cringed and worried they might struggle to swallow. Courts feel similarly when a brief is crammed with redundant words and arguments. The pacing of your brief conveys an important message to the court—keep it digestible and effective.
Subscribe for the Rest of the Series!
If you enjoyed the appetizer, sit tight for the meal. Let’s make your briefs more palatable—one bite at a time. 🍽️ Be sure to check back over the next seven days as we dive deeper into our brief bites and explore practical ways to refine your legal writing.
Disclaimer: The content and images used in this blog, including AI-generated elements, are for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not depict actual legal scenarios. This content is intended to provide general guidance and should not be considered specific legal advice.