In a two-part series, Professor Hillary Burgess taught lawyers and judges from South Africa's Department of Justice, law firms, and courts how to maximize the effectiveness of their Legal Rhetoric. Because South Africa's constitution recognizes eleven official languages, many of the members of the legislature and judiciary speak English as their third, fourth, or fifth language, but must still, at times, write, advocate, and judge in English. Professor Burgess provided guidance on how to use English effectively in legal writing.

Her two presentations were part of an Effective English Advocacy track of the APPEAL (Academics Promoting the Pedagogy of Effective Advocacy in Law) conference co-hosted by Seattle Law School and the University of Pretoria.