Polite but destructive adjectives to include in your advocate’s vocabulary.
We were fighting over origination credit. I contended that the other person wasn’t entitled to anything due to their tenuous relationship to the case. Basically, they heard about it. I told the leader of my team, “Their argument is specious.” Leader responded: “I don’t think Morgan (not the real name) even knows what that word means.”
Words to Use Next Time Around
Sometimes you just run out of ways to say somebody’s trying to peddle a lie, but a real advocate never runs out of the right vocabulary. You don’t want to descend into a verbal brawl. However, with the right words, you can prevail in an elegant duel.
- Specious – A close look shows it’s all baloney.
- Fallacious – The underlying premise is false; based on an incorrect premise, a fallacy.
- Contrived – They made it up.
- Untenable – This won’t withstand scrutiny.
- Spurious – It’s a lie.
In a brief, these adjectives are pretty strong. In oral argument, with the right tone of voice, you can make them even stronger. “Your honor, these arguments are (slight pause here as if searching for the right word, though you’ve actually rehearsed this) completely and utterly spurious.”
Polite, but destructive.
Don’t Go Out on a Limb
Those words are oh-so-close to an insult. If you want to soften it up a bit (and maybe leave yourself an emergency exit), you might try:
- Implausible – Really stretches the willing suspension of disbelief.
- Dubious – A reasonable doubt and then some.
- Unlikely – Pretty ridiculous.
Of course, somewhere in there, you have to provide details as to why no one should believe these assertions. Otherwise, you are just spouting off conclusions and losing credibility.
The Answer Is ‘No’
Have you learned this small talk trick? No matter what the question, an appropriate answer is always, “Can you believe it?” (Hat tip to comedian Alex Edelman.)
This time, when the question is, “Can you believe it?” you want to make sure the answer is “no.”
More Writing Tips
Find more good ideas for improving your legal writing and communications skills in “Get to the Point” by Teddy Snyder.
Subscribe to Attorney at Work
Get really good ideas every day for your law practice: Subscribe to the Daily Dispatch (it’s free).
