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Danielle Geldenhuys

Trial Advocacy: The Art of Persuasion by Advocate Ismail Hussain

Updated: Jul 16


Hussain, Ismail. Trial advocacy: the art of persuasion. – LexisNexis, 2022.


ISBN: 9780639013039 (Print)


Publisher’s summary:


“What is unique about this title:

  • It deals with trial technique from a judge's perspective.

  • Teaches you how to present in a virtual hearing and how to use technology to improve your presentation in court.

  • Teaches you how to present electronic documents and evidence sourced electronically.

  • Has interesting case studies that is used to explain court room technique.

  • It is a law publication that deals comprehensively with Voice and Pronunciation.

  • It deals with topics from vulnerable witnesses to difficult judges and from impossible witnesses to witness briefing.”

Contents include:

  • Voice and pronunciation

  • Where does trial advocacy fit

  • Understanding the adversarial system

  • Case analysis

  • Telling the story

  • Preparation

  • Obtaining instructions

  • What about witnesses

  • The balance of probabilities

  • Opening statement

  • The witness

  • Witness briefing

  • How judges weigh evidence

  • What is the judge looking at?

  • Leading your witness in chief

  • What are the main objectives?

  • Witness must be qualified

  • What is evidence in chief

  • You want to be persuasive

  • The question

  • Managing the paper

  • The digital era

  • Types of questions

  • The headline method

  • The looping back method

  • The closed question

  • Repeating the answer

  • Knowing your objective

  • Know when to stop

  • Communicating with the judge

  • Exhibits and other visual evidence

  • Case management

  • Collection of exhibits

  • Court technique

  • You are on your feet

  • The necessary steps

  • eDiscovery

  • Presenting electronic documents

  • Expert witnesses

  • Leading in chief

  • The opinion

  • Cross-examination

  • Re-examination

  • Visual aids and exhibits

  • Communication and technology

  • Electronic evidence

  • In Loco inspections

  • Vulnerable witnesses

  • Interpreters

  • Presenting final argument

  • On motion

  • Unopposed motions

  • Opposed motion court

  • Urgent applications

  • Virtual hearings

  • Performance anxiety

  • Ethics for trial lawyers

  • Digital assistance in court

  • Training trial lawyers


Price (Print): R800 excluding delivery, including VAT.


The book can be ordered from the Lexinfo Book Supply Service by sending an email to books@lexinfo.co.za


Date posted: 9 May 2022

Updated: 16 July 2024

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