Legal argumentation is a particularly frequently discussed aspect of legal practice. How can one write a persuasive legal position? Who is the true audience of a court when drafting a judgment? What is the prevailing style of judicial reasoning? These and other questions were addressed during an international discussion held on 19 March 2026 at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University. The event was opened with welcoming remarks by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Vigita Vėbraitė.
Professor Charles Szypszak of the University of North Carolina (USA), who opened the discussion, examined the complex issue of the audience for judicial reasoning. He questioned whom certain judicial arguments are truly intended for and highlighted a growing tendency in U.S. courts not to seek arguments that unify judicial positions, but rather to publicly emphasize differences between judges.
Professor Inesa Šeškauskienė (Faculty of Philology, Vilnius University) delivered an engaging presentation on the use of metaphor in law and legal argumentation. She revealed the linguistic dimension of legal texts, surprising the audience by demonstrating how commonly used legal terms often perform a metaphorical function.
Continuing the event, Associate Professor Joahnas Baltrimas of the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University spoke about the significance of precedent in the continental legal tradition, introducing the metaphor of precedent as a “beacon” in law. Concluding the discussion, Associate Professor Donatas Murauskas addressed the role of formalism in the courts of Central and Eastern Europe and presented ongoing research on legal argumentation in Lithuanian courts.
“This event will serve as yet another impetus for strengthening skills in legal argumentation and legal writing within legal studies. It will also contribute to the further development of research related to high-quality legal reasoning and foster an important dialogue with the judicial community,” emphasized the moderator of the event, Associate Professor Donatas Murauskas.
The event was organized by Associate Professor Donatas Murauskas, Associate Professor Justyna Levon, and doctoral candidate Martynas Sadzevičius. It forms part of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF) program and is implemented with funding from the Foundation. More information about BAFF scholarships and lecturer support can be found at www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org.
