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CS Professional · Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances · Art of Advocacy and Appearances

Arjun, a company secretary, prepares to represent a client at a hearing. Which preparation step best reflects the skill of anticipating the other side's case, an essential element of advocacy?

Arjun should identify the weaknesses in his own case and the likely counter-arguments, and prepare rebuttals backed by authorities. Anticipating the opposing side is a core advocacy skill. Ignoring weak points, hoping the bench raises them, or merely reading pleadings aloud leaves the advocate unprepared.

  1. APreparing only the client's favourable points and ignoring weaknesses
  2. BIdentifying weak points in his own case and likely counter-arguments, and preparing rebuttals with supporting authoritiesCorrect
  3. CRelying on the bench to point out the weaknesses
  4. DReading out the entire pleading verbatim at the hearing

Explanation

Anticipating the opponent's arguments and the weak points of one's own case lets the advocate prepare rebuttals and supporting authorities. Ignoring weaknesses leaves one exposed, and reading the pleadings verbatim is not advocacy.

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