Modern Trial Advocacy

NITA’s best-selling text, Modern Trial Advocacy: Analysis and Practice, has set the standard for trial advocacy texts since 1993. All NITA’s renowned full trial programs use the text, as do prominent law schools nationwide. Steven Lubet guides the beginning advocate from developing a winning case theory through all phases of trial. He explains how to present a case as a story, and how to tell the story to the jury powerfully and persuasively.

Since its initial publication, Lubet significantly enhanced the book in 1997 and now he revises it again to include a new chapter on the most recent revolution in trial advocacy: technology in the courtroom."Electronic Visuals," the new chapter by Edward R. Stein, provides a useful and insightful introduction to technology in the courtroom, ranging from evidentiary issues to practical advice. The new edition also includes updates to Federal Rules 702 and 703.

Modern Trial Advocacy contains separate sections on case theory, witness examination, making the record, and talking to the jury; a comprehensive discussion of case theory explaining how to test and develop alternate trial strategies; a portion of each chapter addressing ethics concerns as they arise in practice; and a unique chapter on persuasion theory describing how the principles of cognitive theory can be used to capture the jury’s imagination.

Modern Trial Advocacy presents a realistic and contemporary approach to learning and developing trial advocacy skills. Lubet writes in a clear, concise style that is attractive to both the beginning advocate and the experienced trial lawyer. And, most importantly, this book offers a sophisticated theory-driven approach to advocacy training that distinguishes it from other books in the field.