Opening Statement: Fourteen Tips to Make You a Better Litigator

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Thirty-plus years as a litigator have taught me some ways to bring out my best as a litigator in writing motions, in the courtroom, and in the tumble of daily practice. I suspect these tips may work for you too. Pick a couple, give them a try, and let me know what you think. Learning from the experience of other litigators is a huge benefit of your Section membership. But here’s the deal. In exchange for my tips, I ask you to share some practice tips of your own with your 60,000 Section colleagues. That is how we all become better lawyers and judges. My email address is dbivens@swlaw.com. When you have considered my tip list, give me your reaction and send me your suggestions. I will plan to share them in a future column. In the meantime, I offer the following tips based on my personal experience.