“Clear heads, sounds hearts, full minds, with point may speak,
All else how poor in fact, in law how weak.
Who’s a great lawyer? He, who aims to say
The least his cause requires, not all he may.”–Justice Joseph Story
Effective trial advocacy requires that you end on a high note. This is your chance to argue–your best opportunity to bring together the facts, law and emotions into one clear picture. That clear picture of the case should show why your client deserves to win. To communicate an effective final argument:
1. Reduce the dispute to its bare essentials, answer the lingering questions, and sit down.
2. Argue your theme and theory of case with facts tied to the legal factors or elements at issue.
3. Believe what you ask the judge to believe.
4. Show the wrong, show the remedy, and appeal for action.
5. Tell the judge what you want.