WebCredenza 2025 Demand letters that deliver: Drafting for impact

Recording available after the original program date, 5/13/2025

Demand letters may seem like they’re merely hammer-strokes, the first blow of litigation. But the most effective demand letters are more subtly crafted. Tone is important. Vitriolic letters – letters that do not keep a client’s goals in mind and misjudge the reader’s range of likely reactions – may be counterproductive. Rather than moving the process toward a good outcome, the letter may actually result in setbacks and greater costs. There’s a subtle balance between precision and vagueness, stimulating a favorable response by being sufficiently vague so that the reader speculates about adverse consequences. There’s also the issue of how much of your case – favorable facts and persuasive law – to include in the letter. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to setting goals and carefully crafted demand letters to advance client goals.

• Setting goals and realistic expectations.
• Striking the right tone – how aggressive is too aggressive?
• Precision v. vagueness – leaving room for speculation and negotiation.
• How much of your case – the facts and the law – to include in the letter?
• Common traps and mistakes in demand letters.

Opinions and positions stated by presenters of MoBarCLE programs are those of the presenters and not necessarily those of The Missouri Bar. This program is intended as information for lawyers in Missouri, in conjunction with other research they deem necessary, in the exercise of their independent judgment.

Note: This material qualifies for self-study credit only. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.