Litigate with missionary zeal

By Chinua Asuzu Commit yourself to your client and devote your time and thoughts to the client’s work. “Advocates must try to be totally committed.” Iain Morley, The Devil’s Advocate, 3rd ed. (Sweet & Maxwell, 2015), 39. Think of your client; pray for your client; share your client’s angst, pain, or predicament. Moderate the outmoded…

October 28, 20220Comments

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TIPS

The deep-issue format in written advocacy

By Chinua Asuzu Do you begin your issue statements with the word “whether”? STOP IT. Why? Let me tell you a story. It’s past 3 pm. You’ve just got home from a long, hard day in court. The judge was a Hippy Hallet if ever there was one—she asked more questions than both counsel combined.…

October 28, 20220Comments

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TIPS

Linguistic Sexism

By Chinua Asuzu “If you appear before a female judge who doesn’t like being called lady, then address her in the third nonperson, as this Honorable Court. Never address a female judge as my lord or your lordship. You don’t have to partake of her ladyship’s unrepentant illiteracy. Nor must you join the cult of…

October 19, 20220Comments

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TIPS

Do we have Judicial Governors or Legislative Governors?

By Chinua Asuzu Do we have Judicial Governors or Legislative Governors? Why do you call your governor an "Executive Governor"? Is there any doubt that state governors belong in the executive branch of government? The Constitution says "governor", with no intrusive adjective. Follow suit. In its nominal usage (use as a noun), loot is a…

September 22, 20220Comments

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TIPS

Do we have Judicial Governors or Legislative Governors?

By Chinua Asuzu Do we have Judicial Governors or Legislative Governors? Why do you call your governor an “Executive Governor”? Is there any doubt that state governors belong in the executive branch of government? The Constitution says “governor”, with no intrusive adjective. Follow suit. In a hyphenated name, both elements are capitalized. It’s Karibi-Whyte, NOT…

September 19, 20220Comments

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TIPS

Has anyone ever come to your office seeking a will and testament?

By Chinua Asuzu Judge Mark P. Painter queries probate lawyers, “Has any one ever come to your office seeking a will and testament? Are they two things? And did they then say, ‘I would like to give the rest of my estate to my spouse, the residue to my daughter, and the remainder to my…

September 15, 20220Comments

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TIPS

“Tantamount” has only one grammatical function

By Chinua Asuzu “Tantamount” has only one grammatical function: that of an adjective. Indeed, it's not any kind of adjective; it's a predicate adjective. A predicate adjective is one that follows a linking verb (typically a be-verb like “becomes” or “is”) but modifies the subject. An attributive adjective, on the other hand, typically precedes the…

Embrace and Implement parallel structure in your Writing

By Chinua Asuzu Parallel structure is “a similarity of structure in a pair or series of words, phrases, and thoughts.” Gerald Lebovits. A parallel construction “is a phrase or clause that grammatically mirrors a neighboring phrase or clause.” Bryan A Garner. Parallelism contributes to elegance in prose. It boosts rhythm. Here are samples of parallel…

March 15, 20225Comments

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TIPS

Write your name right, by Chinua Asuzu

Unless a form, medium, or platform constrains you otherwise, state your name in this order: first name–[middle name or initials]–surname/last name. Place your first name first and your last name last. You’ve heard of Nelson Mandela, right? But you’ve never heard of Mandela Nelson. You’ve heard of Muhammadu Buhari, right? But you’ve never heard of…

March 11, 202242Comments

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The Law and You TIPS

“Suspects Need Not Be Handcuffed or Restrained By Police In Nigeria”

DAILY LAW TIPS by Onyekachi Umah,Esq. (Tip 170) “Suspects Need Not Be Handcuffed or Restrained By Police In Nigeria” A suspect of a crime is deemed innocence and should not be handcuffed, bound or restrained by police. Suspect can only be handcuffed where there is violence or attempt to escape or it is necessary for…

March 5, 20225Comments

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TIPS

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