7th Annual Legal Writing Workshop 2025

Why Attend?

• Get an update on contemporary grammar, punctation, and writing strategies.
• Hear from jurists on the best practices in legal writing.
• Gain a better understanding of how to write more concisely and effectively.

Cosponsored with the Virginia State Bar Section on the Education of Lawyers and the American University Washington College of Law Legal Rhetoric Program

An attorney’s ability to effectively communicate through the written word is vital to the practice of law. Arguably, in the artificial intelligence era, it is even more important to be a skilled wordsmith. If the legal writing classes you took back in law school were the last writing training you experienced, or if you would like an opportunity to study and improve your basic legal writing skills, this is the course for you!

This seminar is designed for new attorneys and as a refresher for seasoned attorneys. It is an intensive legal writing course, facilitated by judges, legal rhetoric professors, and experienced attorneys, that will make you a better and more confident legal writer. The faculty of legal scholars will discuss the best practices and new trends in legal writing.

Offering 7.5 hours of MCLE credit (including 1.0 hour of ethics), this course will provide classroom instruction to participants. The program will only be offered live, in-person with no remote options, so register early because space is limited.

The seminar will focus on the following:

• Basic grammar and writing strategies
• Understanding and implementing roadmaps and transitions
• Tailoring your legal writing to your recipients and purpose
• Ethical considerations and professionalism in legal writing
• Effectively writing a discussion or argument section of a memo
• The importance of persuasive characterization and fact emphasis
• The differences between oral and written advocacy and advice on to how to effectively engage in each

Directions to Seminar

Classes will be held on the 21st floor. Once in the lobby, take the elevator to the 21st floor and the Virginia CLE^® registration table will be just outside the main seminar room.  

Lunch

A boxed sandwich lunch will be provided. You will receive an email after you register for the seminar with lunch options.

Overnight Accommodations

Overnight lodging is NOT provided as part of this seminar. Two hotels are within walking distance of the seminar venue. The Norfolk Waterside Marriott, located at 235 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-627-4200, is a block away from the seminar venue. The Hilton Norfolk, The Main, located at 100 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-763-6200, is just across the street from the seminar venue. Please contact the hotels directly to make your own reservations.

Registration Deadline:

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $90 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE^®.

Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.

Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email tfitzgerald@vacle.org.

Inclement Weather Policy and Updates.

MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.

Can’t Attend?

E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.

Course Schedule

Faculty

John M. Bredehoft, Kaufman & Canoles / Norfolk

Hon. Linda Bryant, Chesapeake General District Court / Chesapeake

Steven Emmert, Sykes, Bourdon, Ahern & Levy, PC / Virginia Beach

Hon. David W. Lannetti, Norfolk Circuit Court / Norfolk

Soha Mody, Freddie Mac / McLean                             

Hon. Mary Grace O’Brien, Court of Appeals of Virginia / Manassas                          

Heather E. Ridenour, American University Washington College of Law / Washington, DC

David H. Spratt, American University Washington College of Law / Washington, DC

Course Planner

David H. Spratt, American University Washington College of Law / Washington, DC

Professor David H. Spratt teaches Legal Rhetoric and Family Law Litigation and Practice at the American University, Washington College of Law. He also taught Legal Writing and Research at the George Washington University School of Law, Legal Analysis and Writing at Concord School of Law, and Legal Methods at the Washington College of Law. Professor Spratt is a past chair of the Virginia Bar Association, Domestic Relations Section and the Northern Virginia Regional Advisory Committee. In 2001, he was a founding partner of Schwartz & Spratt, PLC, a family law firm in Fairfax. He received a B.A. degree in Government and Psychology from The College of William and Mary and graduated summa cum laude from the American University, Washington College of Law. Professor Spratt writes a regular column, “Writer’s Block,” for the Virginia Bar Association News Journal. In January 2013, Professor Spratt was appointed to the Virginia State Bar Section on Education of Lawyers Task Force on Legal Writing.