NARRATIVE THINKING AND STORYTELLING IN LEGAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

The interdisciplinary approach in legal studies is very popular at foreign universities, though in Poland the awareness of the need to expand lawyer’s skills combined with those of other disciplines is just beginning to advance. This article considers the potential of applying linguistic knowledge, notably the that in the field of narrative construction and the selection of appropriate linguistic means in the lawyer’s everyday practice. The authors of the article have made an attempt to demonstrate that the combination of paradigmatic thinking of lawyers with the narrative mindset rather typical of linguists is able to positively affect the comprehension of stories in the courtroom. This paper reveals that rhetorical skills could be acquired through well-known literary works, as they may help construct the client’s story in a persuasive manner. Furthermore, the issue of the appropriate choice of the linguistic means when constructing a speech is addressed, insofar as such a measure also determines how the audience evaluates the credibility of the story.