Courses
First (through Third) Year Associates
Advanced Writing for Lawyers - a three and a half to five hour program that provides associates with an editing system to ensure that all of their letters and memoranda are clear and concise, gives them a proven method for getting their thoughts down quickly without facing writer's block, shows them how to keep clients and judges happy by introducing letters and briefs properly, examines ways to make contract clauses more succinct and easier to understand without risking additional exposure, teaches them how to persuade by capturing a reader's imagination, and demonstrates how to build a bulletproof argument. The session begins with ideas on how to work efficiently with a partner (or senior associate) on a writing assignment. (If a class is all litigators or all transactional lawyers, the material can be varied to emphasize the associates' practice.)
*Most states have accredited this course for 3.25 to 5.0 hours of MCLE.
Summer Associates
Advanced Writing for Lawyers - a three and a half hour program similar to the presentation for first year associates. This includes editing, writing quickly, contract clauses, opening letters and briefs, and how to work with partners on writing assignments. If time permits, the students also learn the secret of persuasion and the architecture for building a proper argument.
*Offering this course to a summer class helps to enhance the firm's reputation for commitment to quality training.
Partners (and Senior Associates)
Power Editing for Partners Only - a two-hour presentation on mentoring that teaches partners a quick, efficient editing system for working with new associates, familiarizes the partners with methods and concepts being taught to the associates, and advises them on ways to be a better teacher and coach to make the partner-associate relationship smoother and more productive.
*Most firms offer the Power Editing presentation to partners on the same day the associates attend their writing program.
Litigators (any lawyer practicing before judges, mediators, arbitrators, or agencies)
Writing Techniques for Winning Cases - a seven-hour program that teaches litigators how to win more cases by: finding the theme of their case for focus and direction, spotting the weaknesses in the other side's case, setting a winning tone in the opening sentences, becoming the "fair advocate" judges rely upon, avoiding unethical slights judges despise, editing tightly for greater clarity and impact, introducing their case properly to the judge, creating a compelling story to make the judge want to decide for them, and supporting their position with a bulletproof argument. For the entire second half of the course, the focus is on why and how to write the "ethical brief" to increase the chances of winning.
*Most states have accredited this course for 6.5 to 7.8 hours of MCLE, including 3.25 to 3.9 hours of Ethics.
Ethics Program for Litigators
Winning with the Ethical Brief - the second half only of the Writing Techniques presentation described above, starting with why and how to become the "fair advocate" judges trust and want to decide for. This is the only Ethics program in the country that also shows lawyers how to win more cases.
*Most states have accredited this course for 3.25 to 3.9 hours of Ethics.
General Information on All Courses
All examples are graphically illustrated on PowerPoint, then the lawyers work on exercises, which are also displayed on PowerPoint, so they can see the editing evolve from the sample problem to the corrected version. This technique allows them to learn quickly and walk away from the seminar ready to use the ideas.
Although Gary has honed the material over the years, he constantly incorporates new ideas and examples, and he will tailor what he teaches to include examples of your lawyers' work. Offering focused, effective programs for transactional associates is always a challenge, but he works with partners to create new programs and exercises they think will benefit their protégés.