Course Description
Introduces the process of legal analysis and reasoning and teaches students to produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose, with an emphasis on objective analysis and writing. It also covers legal research sources and methodologies for print and digital resources.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate law students will not be doing any extra work beyond
that required of the Juris Doctor students. J.D. students are
post-baccalaureate students and the workload expected of them
is the same workload expected of post-baccalaureate graduate
students. Law students are professional students, not
undergraduate students. Graduate law students are primarily
international lawyers seeking expertise in the American legal
system. This expertise is gained through exposure to Juris
Doctor courses.
Athena Title
Legal Writing I
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the concepts of legal analysis and legal reasoning within the context of the American judicial and common law system. It covers legal analysis, legal reasoning, and legal writing, preparing the student to present an objective written analysis in the appropriate style and format. Through written feedback and revision, students will improve their ability to be good self-editors and to produce clear, concise, and effective documents. The course also covers the sources and methodologies lawyers use to research the law. Using both traditional teaching methods as well as simulation exercises, the course teaches students to use these skills in the context of representing clients.
Topical Outline
Topics covered may include: 1. The American judicial system. 2. Case briefing and analysis. 3. The common law system and the doctrines of precedent and stare decisis. 4. Analysis of statutory materials. 5. The process of synthesizing legal materials. 6. The structure and organization of written legal analysis. 7. The format of various documents, which may include legal memos and client letters. 8. Production of written documents using the format and style appropriate for the intended audience and purpose. 9. Sources of law and the hierarchy of legal authority. 10. Research methodologies for researching sources of law, both print and digital. 11. Legal citation form. 12. Introduction to contracts - format, style, and drafting considerations.
Syllabus
Public CV