Non-traditional narrative techniques and effective client advocacy

Abstract

Creating a presentation of the facts on behalf of a client for the purposes of advocacy can be a difficult task. While the facts need to articulate the relevant points of the case, they have the potential to be much more than a dry recitation of main points. When a lawyer is advocating on behalf of a client, the facts should create a narrative that helps the audience engage with the information in a way that benefits the client. Teaching this to students is often challenging. Students tend to gravitate toward a traditional, linear presentation of the facts. However, many client stories are not best told under this traditional structure. Additionally, students often fear that non-traditional presentations of facts may be construed as manipulative or unethical. This article explores a variety of non-traditional narrative techniques and how they may be applied to tell difficult client stories. Additionally, it discusses the benefit of using these non-traditional narrative techniques to teach students about framing facts in a way that advocates for their client. It also provides suggestions for addressing student concerns about fact presentation and ethical lawyering.