[Classical] Lawyers As [Digital] Public Speakers: Classical Rhetoric and Lawyer Digital Public Commentary

Nevada Law Journal

Stetson University College of Law Research Paper No. 2020-2

41 Pages Posted: 10 May 2020 Last revised: 5 Jan 2023

See all articles by Kirsten K. Davis

Kirsten K. Davis

Stetson University College of Law

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

Arguably the contexts of speaking and writing for lawyers of ancient Greece and Rome and lawyers of today could not be more different. But, classical rhetorical theory, developed 2,000 years ago for face-to-face interactions in public squares and courtrooms, can be productively applied to improve our understanding of modern lawyers’ digital communication practices. This article first argues that lawyers have an ethical responsibility to write as “citizen lawyers” and provide legal commentary in the digital public sphere. Then, applying classical rhetorical theory, this article explores the problems and possibilities of lawyers’ digital rhetoric. The article is not a handbook of rhetorical techniques; rather it offers lawyers a rhetorical perspective on public commentary in a digital environment.

Keywords: classical rhetorical theory, digital rhetoric, legal rhetoric, rhetoric, legal communication, digital communication, communication

JEL Classification: K00

Suggested Citation

Davis, Kirsten K., [Classical] Lawyers As [Digital] Public Speakers: Classical Rhetoric and Lawyer Digital Public Commentary (2020). Nevada Law Journal, Stetson University College of Law Research Paper No. 2020-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3593807

Kirsten K. Davis (Contact Author)

Stetson University College of Law ( email )

1401 61st Street South
Gulfport, FL 33707
United States
727-562-7877 (Phone)

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