5 Ways to Develop Your Argumentative Skills in Law College


Written by Zayn Tindall
3 mins, 6 secs Read
Updated On December 22, 2023

Engaging in oral or written arguments happens in many cases. The purpose of an argument is to articulate the points of view. Developing argumentative skills will help you to stay ahead of the game when interacting with others. It is also a simple way to prepare for future work. 

In Law College, you need to understand how to interact with a client and your boss. Focus on organizing your thoughts and convincing people to agree with you. Let’s look at the ways to develop argumentative skills.

Consider the Client’s Situation and Clarify Your Thinking

Think of important communication aspects. Establish the purpose and the subject of your message. Take into account the context of your argument and who the receiver is. Think about the benefits and limitations of the issue at hand. Do preliminary research before presenting your argument. Writing argumentative essays in college can help you to learn research skills.

Read to Learn More About Argumentative Essays

Pursuing legal studies in college comes with a lot of demands. Many students have challenges with presenting their arguments in writing. When in law school, you will be asked to write argumentative essays. Read argumentative essay examples on GradesFixer for motivation and inspiration. By studying the samples, you will have insights into essay format, structure, and word choice. This will be the best way to write a quality essay. You will be able to pursue higher education under the right guidance. 


Use an Excellent Speaking Style

Law school teaches how to communicate effectively with clients and judges. A calm and relaxed speaking style is likely to engage your audience. To avoid sounding like a robot, modify your speech. Your argument is essentially a conversation. 

When the need arises, inject passion and always appear approachable. Your audience will hear your voice motion which is important for emphasizing your point. Avoid fluency disruptors such as “um,” “right,” and “uh.” When practicing in college, you can record your argument with a phone and then listen to take note of those phrases.

Fluency disruptors can hurt your credibility and are unprofessional. They can also interrupt the flow of your argument. Use body language to your advantage. Judges evaluate your voice, body language, and your argument’s substance. 

Engage Your Audience

The key to developing argumentative skills is capturing the attention of your audience. Begin with a sentence that will cause your audience to pay attention. No matter the topic you are dealing with, it is important to articulate its importance to the client.

Give the judges a reason to listen-they want to understand your points. Your task is to tell the story of the client effectively, so be creative. It is like being on a stage where you act as a producer and a director.

Many UK law school admissions are based on how well you prepare. In the same way, you demonstrate confidence during an admissions interview, do it when presenting your argument. Failure to believe in an argument is being unable to convince others as well. Avoid reading to the judges, as this will diminish your effectiveness. 

Make Your Content Understandable

To help your audience understand the content, make it simple. Don’t allow the judges to struggle to understand your points. Doing so will make you lose an opportunity to let them understand the client’s story. 

Using examples correctly may help the judges understand the client’s situation. Examples are effective if the legal terminologies and facts are confusing. Avoid using jargon and ambiguous phrases. It is very unlikely for your audience to ask for explanations. Use simple and clear English, otherwise, you will be wasting time. If your audience fails to pick up important facts, they will not understand your argument. 

Practice More

One of the best ways to develop argumentative skills is through practice. When in college, you will have enough time to practice. After a few class presentations, you may notice some level of anxiety. If you are anxious during public speaking, overcome the fear by engaging in more comfortable activities.

When presenting your arguments, be ready to answer hard questions. Identify the gas in that argument. List all the questions about problem areas. Find responses to them and practice how to deliver them. 

Conclusion

Follow the above guidelines to develop your argumentative skills in Law College. You will be able to coordinate with your clients and engage with the judges. Focus on presenting a case effectively to a person you want to convince. Assume the role of an expert advocate even before graduating. The argumentative skills will enable you to prepare effectively for your career in law.




Author: Zayn Tindall
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