How to Write a Legal Summation

Write a good legal summation to swing the ruling in your favor.

Your legal summation, also known as your closing statement, is your last chance to make an impression on the judge or jury before they deliberate the final verdict. It's your chance to make your most powerful points once again and to reduce trust in your opponent's argument. Unlike other aspects of the trial, emotion and personable opinion are welcome, rather than just legal arguments and facts. By carefully writing and rewriting your summation until you get it perfect, you increase your chances of getting the verdict you're looking for.

Instructions

1. Start with a powerful hook to catch the judge or jury's attention. The hook should engage the listeners emotionally and get them to pay attention to the rest of what you have to say.

2. Recap the most important parts of the law regarding the case. Reinforce why your side is legally in the right.

3. Address the moral aspects of the case. Don't just convince the jury that you're legally right but convince them that you're also morally right as well.

4. Refute the other side's claims. State why they're legally or morally in the wrong. Use their own words or admissions from cross examinations to break down their case. Bring up any credibility hindering aspects of their persons or statements. Also point out the absence of any evidence that should be there.

5. Use one to three visual aids. Visuals help people grasp what you're saying and help statements "land." Use them to reinforce your most powerful arguments or debilitate your opposition's strongest points.

6. Close on a compelling note. In one or two emotionally charged sentences, summarize why you're in the right and why they should rule in your favor.

References

• Homestead: Closing Argument in Criminal Cases
• The Law Insider: The End of the Trial: Closing Argument