Writing for Court: 10 Tips for Persuading Decision Makers
High conflict people are drawn to court, and they may sway it with false or misleading statements about you or your client. The way you write can make the difference. This 1-hour course gives you ten concrete tips for court documents that give decision-makers a focused understanding of the case.
Your instructor
Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.
Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, High Conflict Institute
500,000+
professionals trained worldwide
Judges decide fast, with thousands of similar cases behind yours.
Decision-makers have limited time and attention. They decide very quickly whether your case is minor or major, and they often carry unconscious priors: that abuse allegations are mostly true, or mostly false, or that both parties are equal contributors to any problem. Writing that anticipates how courts actually read is one of the most reliable advantages you can give a case.
Outcomes you'll bring back from Writing for Court.
- Apply ten practical tips for writing persuasive court documents.
- Give judges a focused understanding of the case on the first read.
- Write for a reader with thousands of similar cases and limited time.
- Anticipate unconscious biases about abuse allegations and shared blame.
- Signal early when your case is the exception that needs real attention.
- Counter false and misleading statements without sounding high-conflict yourself.
Who Writing for Court is built for.
Family Lawyers
Declarations, motions, and briefs that cut through a crowded docket.
Paralegals & Legal Staff
Draft supporting documents that hold up to a fast judicial read.
Self-Represented Litigants
Present your own case in writing the way decision-makers need to see it.
How Writing for Court is delivered.
A 1-hour on-demand video course: the ten tips, the reasoning behind them, and how judges actually read what you file.
- 60-minute video course — All ten writing tips with the courtroom reality behind each one.
- PowerPoint PDF — Downloadable slides to keep beside you while drafting.
- Certificate of Completion — 1 hour documented.
Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.
Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. is the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of the High Conflict Institute. He pioneered the High Conflict Personality Theory (HCP) and is an international expert on managing disputes involving people with high-conflict personalities. He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books, manuals, and workbooks, co-host of the podcast It's All Your Fault!, and writes a Psychology Today blog with millions of views.
Before co-founding HCI, Bill was the Senior Family Mediator at the National Conflict Resolution Center for 15 years, a Certified Family Law Specialist lawyer representing clients in family court for 15 years, and a licensed clinical social worker therapist with twelve years of experience. He has served on the faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, taught as a Conjoint Associate Professor with the University of Newcastle Law School in Australia, and trained professionals in over 35 U.S. states and 13 countries.
Writing for Court — frequently asked questions.
Who is this course for?
How do I access the course?
Will I get continuing education credit?
Is this legal or therapeutic advice?
Can our team or organization get this training together?
Ready to enroll?
Enroll an individual seat now, or talk to us about a private cohort designed around your organization's actual cases.
