Side Bar CLE: Ah, Rhetoric

Please join us for our April Side Bar presentation as we welcome theater instructor Stephany Roscoe to present The First We Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers: Ah, Rhetoric, a workshop focusing on Shakespeare's usage of rhetoric. 

In this workshop we will explore Shakespeare’s use of rhetoric in a scene from Merchant of Venice as Portia attempts to persuade Shylock toward mercy. We will then discuss how the same tools of rhetoric can be applied by modern lawyers to help persuade a listener. 

A good working knowledge of rhetoric is essential for any attorney seeking to properly persuade a judge, jury, opposing party, or even one's own client.  The works of William Shakespeare exhibit the power of rhetoric and demonstrate the uses of several rhetoric tools. By focusing on a particular scene and providing a close read of the strategies and tactics the characters utilize, attendees will gain a deeper knowledge of rhetorical skills and how to apply them to their current practices.  

Under Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, attorneys must provide "competent" representation, including the necessary "skill".  This workshop aims to increase and improve the argument skills for an attorney.  

This presentation will be presented via Zoom. The meeting room information will be distributed the day before the presentation.