Facilitator Guide

Reply Briefs

Facilitator Guide

Reply Briefs

Topic: Motion Practice
Duration: 1 hr
Format: Remote or in person

What’s covered

Goals of a reply brief
Deciding what to include
Assessing harm from the opposition brief
Rehabilitating your arguments
Drafting the introduction
Drafting the argument section

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/trainings/reply-briefs/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

Course

Reply Briefs

How to approach drafting a reply brief, including goals, choosing what to argue, and drafting the introduction and argument sections.
Exercise
PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

What are some characteristics that are unique to a reply brief?
How might you decide what points to argue in your reply brief?
What are some ways you can rehabilitate arguments that the opposition damaged?
Why is it important to address any new argument raised by the other side in their opposition?
What should you cover in the introduction section of your reply brief?

Part 2: Group Exercise

Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: War Stories and Firm Specifics

Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

Anecdotes and war stories (e.g., about a near-disaster or a tough negotiation)
General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue their learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Motion Practice topic.

About Hotshot

Hotshot helps lawyers develop their legal, business, and technology skills through short videos, quizzes, and summaries, and we help law firms and law schools plan and deliver engaging training programs. Our customers include Am Law 200 firms, top law schools, and regional and international firms.