procedures and litigation

David Frederick's Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy is a joy to read and an invaluable aid. This soup-to-nuts practitioner's guide for oral argument is rich with history, examples, anecdote, humor, and practical tips. But don't take my word for it. In her Foreword, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lauds the work as "offering sound advice on preparing and delivering oral arguments capable of capturing the Court's sympathetic attention." The Supreme Court's website also recommends the book in its "Guide for Counsel" prepared by the Clerk of the Court. It is difficult to imagine two better recommendations. Every appellate advocate should keep a copy within easy reach.

It would be a shame, however, if Mr. Frederick's readership were limited to the appellate bar. The book should be subtitled "Mastering the Art of Persuasion," for its lessons apply to every lawyer called upon to argue a cause, regardless of forum or medium. His examples draw heavily from his former colleagues in the Solicitor General's Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The reader is, in every sense, learning from the masters. Every lawyer would benefit from its sage advice.