Law Practice,
Civil Litigation
Feb. 20, 2026
Scripted silence: The lost skill of speaking in court
Oral advocacy is becoming a rare and undervalued skill for developing attorneys, with overreliance on writing and scripted preparation leaving many unprepared to think, respond and persuade in real time.
Oral advocacy is an increasingly elusive part of practical
experience for developing attorneys. Legal education and early professional
training focus almost exclusively on research and writing--skills that are indispensable, but cannot replace the ability to persuade a
live courtroom audience.
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