Argument writing is all about whether you have quality evidence and whether you can explain how your evidence supports your claim. The logical process of gathering evidence, coming up with a claim, and linking evidence to your claim is so crucial to the success of a lawyers’ case. This process is encapsulated in the civil proceedings which end in written address or brief of argument as the case may be

This was the foremost discussion at a symposium in Lagos on “Civil Procedure, Appellate Briefs and Written Arguments” The symposium, an initiative of the Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), drew participants from law firms across the country.

The Symposium, held on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at The International Court Of Arbitration And ADR (ICAA), Lekki, Lagos, became imperative as a means to to equip participants with the skills required to handle civil proceedings starting from gathering evidence, to drafting claims, linking evidence to claims and drafting written arguments.

Dr. Dapo Olanipekun SAN, Managing Partner, Wole Olanipekun and Co. and Mr Olatunde Adejuyigbe, SAN, Lead Partner of Olatunde Adejuyigbe & Co. facilitated different sessions at the event.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Dapo Olanipekun SAN who led two sessions on “Ethical Limits on Civil Litigation Advocacy” and “Proceedings in Civil Litigation – Turning Electronically Stored Information to Evidence”, summarised a lawyer’s duty to court as “uphold and observe the rule of law, promote and Foster the cause of justice, maintain a high standard of professional conduct, and Shall not engage in any conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner.”  He also listed the Electronically Stored Information admissible in court as  emails, tapes, photographs, videos etc although materials sought to be tendered as evidence must be pleaded, relevant, and in a form admissible in law.

Mr Olatunde Adejuyigbe, SAN, led two highly interactive sessions on “The Evolving Practice of Written Advocacy” and “Ten Commandments of Writing an Effective Appellate Brief”. He listed out certain skills a lawyer must nurture to gain mastery in the craft of written advocacy but surmised that practice makes perfect. As you pen your submissions more frequently, you will undoubtedly attain the great height in advocacy. He summarised by saying that “The sure way of developing the mastery in brief writing is to read excellent briefs written by the cream of the Nigerian bar, the brightest and the best in the legal profession”..

At the end of the symposium, Mr Adejuyigbe, SAN, presented the participants with certificates of participation.