Trial Strategy, Persuasion, & Storytelling

Catalog description

This experiential course explores how the best trial lawyers use storytelling and persuasion to shape strategy and win cases. Students will learn directly from nationally recognized advocates through the Kaufman Lecture Series and then apply those lessons in classroom sessions designed to strengthen their own voice and advocacy skills. The course meets a total of six times during the term; three Kaufman Lectures featuring leading trial attorneys and three interactive class sessions led by faculty. Each class session focuses on translating professional insights into practice through guided discussions, demonstrations, and storytelling exercises. Students will analyze trial strategy and narrative technique, explore how emotion and structure influence persuasion, and practice crafting and delivering a short story of their own using The Moth storytelling framework.