Coberly Quoted on the Importance of Strong Writing Skills

Linda Coberly, vice chair of the firm's appellate and critical motions practice group in Chicago, was quoted in the May 2011 issue of the Chicago Lawyer Magazine article, "The Importance of Lawyers Using Strong Writing Skills."

The article discusses the importance of writing, as many cases are now being decided through motions and briefs as opposed to arguments in the courtroom. Judges, attorneys, and professors gave advice and suggestions on how to write effectively to convey your message, while keeping in mind the rules that each court has for the length of motions and briefs.

Ms. Coberly emphasized the importance of organization saying, "I use clear topic sentences and point headings, so the reader can see the entire structure of the argument. Introductions are very important. I always try to create an introduction that sets the tone for the brief and explains in the first paragraph why my client should win. That means getting rid of a lot of unnecessary verbiage at the beginning."