The Lamparello Law, Education, and Advocacy blog is a resource designed to make the law more accessible, understandable, and empowering. We share insights, updates, and practical guidance on legal topics that impact individuals, families, and communities, breaking down complex issues into clear, actionable information.
Whether you are seeking clarity on your rights, staying informed on legal developments, or exploring issues that shape access to justice, our goal is to provide thoughtful content that informs, supports, and advocates for you every step of the way.
Opening statements are among the most critical aspects of a trial. Indeed, the opening statement provides attorneys with the opportunity to, among other things, make an excellent first impression with the jury, highlight the most favorable facts supp…
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As a professor and pre-law advisor, countless students express a passion for and commitment to a legal career every semester. In so doing, they always ask the same question: what skills are needed to be a great lawyer? Intelligence, critical thinking…
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Developing strong persuasive advocacy skills—both written and oral—is a challenging process that requires dedication, resilience, a growth mindset, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Law students begin honing these skills early, navigating th…
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Anxiety is a common experience for attorneys. Whether you’re preparing for an oral argument, conducting a deposition, or leading a trial, the pressure can be intense—and the fear of underperforming can be debilitating. But anxiety doesn’t have…
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Ask a juror what they remember months after trial, and chances are they’ll recite the theme—not the jury charge. At the core of every persuasive brief, oral argument, or trial lies a theme—the beating heart of your case that distills law and fa…
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Public-employee speech doctrine appears, on paper, to be well settled. Courts recite familiar tests, invoke settled standards, and reaffirm bedrock First Amendment principles. The rules are known. The frameworks are stable. The citations are routine.…
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Most lawyers think they’re good negotiators because they argue for a living. They’re not. Argument is about winning a point. Negotiation is about shaping a decision. The best negotiators don’t overpower the other side—they design the environm…
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Most writing advice is either vague (“find your voice”) or obvious (“be clear”). Neither helps when the stakes are real—when you’re writing for judges, editors, gatekeepers, or readers who are actively looking for reasons to stop reading.…
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Public employers rarely punish speech outright anymore. They do something more subtle—and more effective. They invoke professionalism. Across public institutions, and especially universities, adverse actions are increasingly justified by claims abo…
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Speech is punished because it is disfavored. Universities then invent other reasons to conceal the suppression of free expression—presenting themselves as benevolent actors even when their conduct, in constitutional terms, constitutes a textbook vi…
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