Course Description
Advanced skills of legal analysis, reasoning, and research within the context of legal argument. Students produce written documents in the style and format appropriate for the audience and purpose, with an emphasis on persuasive writing. Also covered are basic concepts, conventions, and formats for drafting legal documents.
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 II
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course builds on the concepts of legal analysis, writing, and research covered in the introductory course and applies these concepts and skills in the context of legal argument. Students will learn how to construct a legal argument and present it in written form using the appropriate style and format. The course also covers the basic forms, concepts, and conventions appropriate for drafting legal documents.
Topical Outline
Topics covered may include: 1. The process of appellate argument and review. 2. Appropriate use of persuasive legal authority. 3. The structure and organization of legal argument. 4. The format, structure, and purpose of trial or appellate briefs. 5. Advanced legal research methodologies. 6. Oral argument. 7. The conventions applicable to drafting all legal documents, including clarity, precision, and logical organization. 8. The format, structure, and purpose of specific legal documents, which may include contracts, statutes or rules, and litigation or non-litigation documents. 8. Considerations specific to particular types of documents, e.g., the applicability of the UCC to drafting contracts or the requirements of court rules with regard to drafting litigation documents. 9. Practical and ethical considerations relevant to effectively representing a client’s interest when drafting contracts or other types of legal documents.
Syllabus
Public CV