A short course in Mindmaps for lawyers
In the early 1980’s when working as a trial lawyer, I began using Mindmaps as a tool for preparation and planning of legal activities: such as briefs, arguments, direct/cross examination, or other presentations. It is a method for planning and organizing that can help lawyers be creative and better express the relationships among facts and law. At that time there seemed to be little use of the tool – a Google search now (30 years later) indicates much more attention to mindmapping for lawyers. It supplements rather than replaces what one is currently using.
Pioneered by Tony Buzan (see below) the approach, among others, is to stimulate thinking, encourage creativity, offer flexibility in presentations, clarify interrelationships, avoid the problems with linear outlines, create greater listener contact and permit flexibility and responsiveness in the presenter.
The Mindmap concept can be adequately explained in text – such as in the various books on the subject. However, it has more meaning when discussed as a group. I often presented this topic – Mindmapping for Lawyers – at National Institute of Trial Advocacy programs.
Buzan Mindmap Example
Agenda The course I offer to law firms is 30-40 minutes, suitable for a breakfast or lunch meeting. The typical agenda is:
- What is mindmapping?
- Why use it? What are the advantages to the lawyer?
- Example of using of the tool: Outline briefs/memos, opening/closing statements, motion argument, appeals, witness examination, case organization.
- Work through and develop some short examples.
- How to integrate it into your practice.
- Using computer mindmapping tools – Mindgenius.
It is helpful if a few lawyers can have a general outline of a motion, case, witness examination or appeal they can present and the group can then mindmap it.
References
Use Both Sides of Your Brain, Chapter 3, Tony Buzan, E.P. Dutton, NY, 1983.
The Brain Book, Chapter 7, Peter Russell, E.P. Dutton, NY, 1979.