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Kirsten K. Davis, The Lawyer, Speaking: The Law as “Perfect Orator”, in Classical Rhetoric, Modern Law (Jay Mootz et al. eds., University of Alabama Press, 2023)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis and Jay Mootz, Introduction to Rhetoric and Contemporary Law, in Classical Rhetoric, Modern Law (Jay Mootz et al. eds., University of Alabama Press, 2023)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis, A Provisional Definition of Legal Writing Scholarship, in 2University of Oregon Proceedings: Online Journal of Legal Writing Conference Presentations (2021)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis, [Classical] Lawyers As [Digital] Public Speakers: Classical Rhetoric and Lawyer, 20 Nev. L.J. 1137 (2020)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
Arguably the contexts of speaking and writing for lawyers of ancient Greece and Rome and lawyers of today could not be more different. But, classical rhetorical theory, developed 2,000 years ago for face-to-face interactions in public squares and courtrooms, can be productively applied to improve our understanding of modern lawyers’ digital communication practices. This article first argues that lawyers have an ethical responsibility to write as “citizen lawyers” and provide legal commentary in the digital public sphere. Then, applying classical rhetorical theory, this article explores the problems and possibilities of lawyers’ digital rhetoric. The article is not a handbook of rhetorical techniques; rather it offers lawyers a rhetorical perspective on public commentary in a digital environment.
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Kirsten K. Davis, Reading Legal Writing Together: Reading Groups Can Build the Disciplinary Community of Legal Writing Scholars, 23 Legal Writing 31 (2019)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
This essay describes how a reading group of scholars can help develop community in a scholarly discipline.
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Brooke J. Bowman et al., Oral Argument: The Essential Guide (Stetson University Institute for the Advancement of Legal Education, 2018)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis, Avoid “Acrimony:” Get Rid of Blaming Language and Get Results, 14 The Professional 8 (2017)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis, Recent Judicial Criticism Cases: Audience, Style, and Tone Matter, AALS Professional Responsibility Section Newsletter (2016)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis, My Legal Writing: Memos (2016)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
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Kirsten K. Davis, Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods and Rhetorical Theory in the “Third Generation”, in Scholarship: Who Are We Now? Legal Writing Scholarship in Today's Academy (July 1, 2016)Clicking on the button will copy the full recommended citation.
This paper, written for an audience of law school faculty who teach and research legal communication topics, covers the basic differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods. It contextualizes rhetorical theory and rhetorical methods of inquiry, specifically rhetorical criticism, within the qualitative/quantitative structure. it suggests that the "third generation" of legal writing/legal communication scholarship is best developed by understanding the differences between theory and method, the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, and the place of rhetorical theory and method in the community's research practices.