Below is a short list of books and scholarly journal articles related to persuasive writing, with a focus on legal persuasion.
Books
Legal Persuasion: A Rhetorical Approach to the Science (Linda L. Berger and Kathryn M. Stanchi, 2018)
This title integrates research from cognitive science with classical and contemporary rhetorical theory, synthesizing these two disciplines and applying them to legal persuasion. The persuasive synthesis is illustrated through concrete examples and the authors provide excellent explanations of why, how, and when to utilize certain persuasive methods and techniques.
The Mindful Legal Writer: Mastering Persuasive Writing (Heidi Brown, 2016)
The Mindful Legal Writer focuses on why and how persuasive writing is used in law practice. Chapters address how to employ persuasive writing techniques in court filings, oral argument, and transactional practice and appendices provide examples of the types of legal document discussed in the book.
Advanced Legal Writing: Theories and Strategies in Persuasive Writing (Michael R. Smith, 2013)
This book focuses on classical writing strategies and rhetorical application, giving the reader writing tools that can be applied in a wide range of legal (and non-legal) settings.
Briefs and Beyond: Persuasive Legal Writing (Mary Beth Beazley and Monte Smith, 2021)
This title instructs the reader on how to use persuasive elements in complaints, demand letters, and legal documents. It specifically addresses persuasion with statutory authority, how to use cases effectively, and evidence in persuasive writing.
Readings in Persuasion: Briefs that Changed the World (Charles Calleros and Linda H. Edwards, 2012)
Readings in Persuasion instructs the reader on foundational persuasive legal writing techniques including rhetoric, voice, emotion, metaphor, and narrative. The text also presents a number of famous cases and explores their history, and the persuasive legal writing that impacted the case outcomes.
The Art of Advocacy: Briefs, Motions, and Writing Strategies of America’s Best Lawyers (Noah A. Messing, 2013)
This book contains more than 150 examples of advocacy to show lawyers how to write winning briefs and motions.
Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade (Robert B. Cialdini, Simon & Schuster, 2016)
This work covers the science of persuasion.
The databases listed below provides access to journal articles and other resources that have examples of persuasive writing or provide instruction for writing persuasively, across academic disciplines. The databases are available on-campus or remotely.
Additional resources can be found below: