Training Guide

Preliminary Statement in a Brief

Training Guide

Preliminary Statement in a Brief

Topic: Motion Practice
Duration: 1 hr
Format: Remote or in person

What’s Covered

Goals of a preliminary statement
What to include
Theme of your brief
Drafting persuasively

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/trainings/preliminary-statement-in-a-brief/attendee

Prepare Yourself

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

Course

Preliminary Statement in a Brief

How to draft an engaging, effective preliminary statement, including what to include and how to make it persuasive.
Exercise

Preliminary Statement in a Brief
PDF

During the Session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

What are some of the goals for a preliminary statement?
What information should you include in a preliminary statement?
Why might you consider addressing your opponent’s compelling arguments in your preliminary statement?
How can developing a successful theme improve your preliminary statement?
What are a few ways that lawyers sometimes oversell their points?

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.

About Hotshot

Hotshot helps lawyers develop their legal, business, and technology skills through short videos, quizzes, and summaries, and we help law firms and law schools plan and deliver engaging training programs. Our customers include Am Law 200 firms, top law schools, and regional and international firms.