Full Description
It is essential that all barristers develop the specialist skill of advising on practical matters such as evidence and procedure. Opinion Writing provides trainee barristers with a thorough grounding in the essential elements of this skill. The manual adopts a systematic approach to opinion writing, first dealing with analysis of the issues of a case, followed by deciding on what advice should be given and how the opinion should be structured, and finally with writing the opinion to a high professional standard. The fundamental qualities of effective writing - clarity, accuracy and conciseness - are clearly identified and explained and the manual encourages trainee barristers to develop the unrivalled level of proficiency in writing required of all practising barristers. Opinion Writing is essential reading for all trainee barristers, and is also a useful source of reference for junior practitioners wishing to refresh or refine their opinion writing skills.
Contents
1. Introduction; 2. Qualities of good writing; 3. Plain English; 4. Introduction to opinion writing; 5. Opinion writing; 6. The use of law in an option; 7. Getting started; 8. An illustration of the opinion writing process; 9. Examples of barristers' opinions; 10. Advising for the purposes of public funding in civil cases; 11. Advice on evidence in a civil case; 12. Advice on evidence in a criminal case; 13. Advice on evidence and quantum; 14. Checklist for Opinion Writing Skills; Appendix A: Improving your writing skills; Appendix B: Exercises; Appendix C: Further exercises; Appendix D: Re Mr and Mrs Roberts
