The Practical Application of Critical and Comparative Rhetoric
This eight-week certificate course is designed for upper‑division law students, judges, practicing attorneys, law faculty, and prospective faculty seeking to broaden their written advocacy skills in service of justice. No prior experience with rhetorical theory is required.
Throughout the course, participants will apply advocacy tools drawn from diverse cultural and rhetorical traditions to produce writing that centers the lived experiences of minoritized communities. By the end of the term:
- Law students and attorneys will gain hands-on experience crafting inclusive, equity‑focused advocacy documents.
- Judges will develop strategies for incorporating these tools into the writing of judicial opinions.
- Law faculty will learn to integrate these approaches into lesson plans and course materials for use in their own classrooms.
This course provides a practical, interdisciplinary foundation for anyone committed to advancing equity and justice through more intentional, inclusive legal communication.
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a digital certificate and digital badge issued by the Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication.
This Critical and Comparative Rhetoric course is delivered fully online through a series of asynchronous modules that guide participants step‑by‑step through foundational and applied concepts. Each module builds on the last, allowing learners to engage with the material at their own pace while progressively developing the analytical tools needed for the final project.
An abbreviated look at the course's thematic development:
- Begin with an introduction to the course goals and expectations.
- Explore how traditional legal reasoning has been shaped by Western thought and implicit bias.
- Learn strategies for identifying and interrupting those patterns in legal analysis.
- Get an introduction to critical and comparative rhetoric, along with multicultural analytical approaches.
- Apply these frameworks to legal documents and prepare a polished final project for peer review.
One required textbook must be purchased or otherwise obtained: Critical and Comparative Rhetoric: Unmasking Privilege and Power in Law and Legal Advocacy to Achieve Truth, Justice, and Advocacy (Elizabeth Berenguer, Lucy Jewel & Teri A. McMurtry‑Chubb, 1st ed. 2023).
The instructor will provide other readings in PDF form and links to a variety of multimedia resources.
Completion Requirements
To earn the completion certificate and digital badge, participants must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Select a Case or Artifact for Analysis - Participants must identify the course, judicial opinion, and/or legal brief (trial or appellate) that will serve as the focus of their work across the eight modules.
Law student participants will receive a curated set of case files from which to choose, forming the simulated litigation universe for their trial and appellate brief assignments. - Complete All Module Exercises - Each module concludes with one or more exercises designed to apply the concepts presented. All exercises must be completed to progress through the course.
- Produce a Final Work Product - Participants must complete one of the following, using at least one analytical tool introduced in the course:
• A lesson plan
• A rewritten judicial opinion
• A revised or newly drafted legal brief - Record a Brief Presentation - Participants must create a short video presentation summarizing their selected case and final work product, including a discussion of key writing choices, strategies, and analytic decisions as outlined in the assignment instructions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Locate Western legal reasoning and analytic paradigms within their historical, social, and political contexts.
- Identify and explain how bias operates within Western legal reasoning and analytic frameworks.
- Design analytical frameworks that interrupt or mitigate such bias.
- Identify and explain multicultural reasoning and analytic paradigms.
- Design and apply analytical frameworks that integrate multicultural perspectives to enhance legal analysis and critique.
| Course | Length | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical & Comparative Rhetoric | 8 weeks | Asynchronous | $895 |
| Foundational Bundle (Rhetorical Criticism + Critical & Comparative Rhetoric) | 24 weeks | Hybrid and Asynchronous | $1,695 |
| Multicultural Scholar Bundle (Critical & Comparative Rhetoric + All Advanced Multicultural Rhetoric) | 28 weeks | Hybrid and Asynchronous | $1,995 |
| Advanced Rhetoric Bundle (All Courses) | 48 weeks | Hybrid and Asynchronous | $2,495 |
CLE credits and CEU credits may be awarded upon completion of all course components.
Course fees must be paid in full before the course start date. Please see our FAQs for detailed information on our cancellation and refund policy.
Can I apply these courses towards a Law degree at Stetson University?
No. The courses within the legal communication program do not carry academic credit and cannot be applied toward any degree programs at Stetson University College of Law. Participation in these courses will not result in a degree, alumni status, or earned academic credit at Stetson University or Stetson University College of Law, nor will it be recorded on their transcripts. Additionally, it does not guarantee admission to Stetson University, Stetson University College of Law, or any other institution.
What is a digital badge?
Digital badges are online credentials that visually showcase verified skills or achievements. They include metadata about who issued the badge, what was required to earn it, and evidence of completion, and can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn. This credential allows participants to:
- Display their completion publicly on LinkedIn
- Signal advanced training in legal rhetorical scholarship and inclusive advocacy
- Demonstrate sustained professional development to hiring and promotion committees
- Join a growing national network of Institute alumni
How much CLE credit will I earn?
Stetson Law has applied to the Florida Bar for CLE credits for each of the courses within the program. While Stetson Law does not apply for or pay for CLE credits in states other than Florida, we will provide attorneys with the materials needed to apply for CLE credits in other states. Attorneys should contact their state's Bar association with specific questions about obtaining CLE credits for these courses.
Are accommodations available if needed?
Stetson is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We encourage learners with disabilities or other special needs to contact the Office of Professional Education at [email protected] as early as possible if accommodations or support may be required to fully participate in this course.
What is your cancellation/refund policy?
Stetson Cancellation: If Stetson University College of Law needs to cancel a course for any reason, participants will be notified at least 24 hours in advance by phone or email. In the case of a course cancellation, a full 100% refund will be issued to each registered participant.
Attendee Cancellation: Stetson Law will provide a refund, minus a $75 cancellation fee per course, for any cancellation requests received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fourteenth (14) business day before the course start date. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received within thirteen (13) business days of the course start date or for cancellations made after the course begins. Additionally, once you access the online course materials, you will no longer be eligible for a refund.
Meet the Expert
Teri A. McMurtry-Chubb, Director of the Critical Race and Gender Studies JD Concentration and Professor of Law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, is a nationally recognized scholar of critical race feminism, rhetoric, and legal history. She has authored multiple books and articles on race, gender, and law, and is a leading voice in developing diversity, equity, and inclusion–focused legal curricula.
Teri is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Blackwell Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Legal Writing and the UIC Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. She currently serves as Lead PI for the Mellon Foundation-funded Humanizing Critical Race Theory Project.