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Facilitator Guide

Oral Arguments

What’s covered

  • Tips for creating useful notes
  • Other things you can do to prepare
  • Structuring your presentation
  • Tips for presenting well
  • How to handle different reactions from the judge
  • Rebuttal tips

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/discussions/oral-arguments/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

  • still frame from Oral Arguments

    Course

    Oral Arguments

    Rules, norms, and tips for arguing a motion before a judge; and tips for preparing for an oral argument.

  • Icon of a document

    Exercise

    PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check
 
Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:
 
  • When creating notes for your oral argument, what kinds of things should your notes include, and what are some mistakes to avoid?
  • How should you structure your presentation?
  • What are some ways you can adapt your argument based on the judge’s reactions?
  • What kinds of things should you cover in your rebuttal?
 
Part 2: Group Exercise
 
Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.
Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.
 
Part 3: War Stories and Firm Specifics
 
Share your own experiences and guidance, including:
 
  • Anecdotes and war stories (e.g., about a near-disaster or a tough negotiation)
  • General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
  • Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue their learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Motion Practice topic.