Most lawyers’ logical intuitions are strong enough to permit smooth navigation most of the time through webs of complex legal arguments without error. Still, unfamiliarity with logic and argument form limits a lawyer’s analytical oversight. This makes him or her vulnerable to committing or overlooking mistakes of reasoning that can affect the outcome of cases.

Studying the principles of inductive and deductive reasoning thus significantly benefits trial work, contract drafting, adjudicative practice – any area that calls itself “law”. To be sure, appeals to sentiment or self-interest, and “value-judgments” influence the law. Yet as one appellate court has stated, “Every legal analysis should begin at the point of reason, continue along a path of logic and arrive at a fundamentally fair result.”

Attend this workshop to learn a practical framework and gain specific analytical tools for working with legal arguments. The workshop provides sufficiently complete, but short and concise descriptions of those argument forms and logical fallacies (errors of reasoning) most relevant to legal practice.

This workshop will cover:

• Workshop goals
• Introduction to inductive reasoning and deductive logic
  – Introduction to the terms of basic argument
• The comfort and cunning of deductive reasoning
• Categorical syllogisms
• If’s, And’s, and Or’s
  – Hypothetical, conjunctive and disjunctive syllogisms
• Case law analysis.

Learning objectives

To help you:

• Refine and develop your ability to logically identify and weigh critical issues.
• Formulate reasoned and cogent arguments.

Format

The workshop will include a mix of lecture, discussion, and case law analysis. Emphasis will be placed on developing a practical understanding of the forms of argument most common in legal practice. Numbers are limited to 32 participants.

Materials

Some reading material will be sent to participants prior to the workshop. The course materials will be given to participants when they register on the day.

Timing

• 9.00am - 4.00pm

Presenter

• Professor Douglas Lind, Virginia Tech, USA

Fee (incl GST)

Workshop

• $495 - NZLS members and Associate members
• $545 - Non-members

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Click here

Download PDF brochure and registration form here.

Wellington	15 October
Auckland	18 October

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Cancellation and refund policy

Please note: Minimum and maximum numbers apply. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis. Registrations close 10 working days before the presentation date (the closing date). NZLS CLE Ltd reserves the right to cancel any session that does not reach the budgeted minimum number of registrations. This decision will be made on the closing date and a full refund will be made to each registrant of the cancelled session. If you cancel your registration before the closing date, a refund will be made, less a $100 administration fee. After the closing date, there will be no refund. You may transfer your registration until five working days before the presentation. Please advise NZLS CLE Ltd in writing of the change.