Rhetorical Traditions and Contemporary Law

This volume uses significant texts in rhetoric to interpret contemporary legal texts, expanding the conversation between law and rhetoric.

This volume explores the often-overlooked relationship between law and rhetoric. Twelve case studies examine a diverse range of legal texts and rhetorical traditions from ancient times to the present. The volume demonstrates the value of rhetoric in understanding and addressing some of today's most pressing legal and social challenges.Rhetorical Traditions and Contemporary Law is a collection of twelve case studies that explore the often-overlooked intersections of law and rhetoric. Drawing from rhetorical traditions of the past and present, the multidisciplinary roster of contributors analyzes contemporary legal theory and practice, from judicial opinions to legal scholarship, using significant texts or concepts in a rhetorical tradition. Their essays demonstrate how legal texts function and to what end, while also considering how they might have worked differently. The volume sheds light on the usefulness of rhetoric in addressing some of today's most pressing legal and social challenges. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.