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Legal Writing Program
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Legal Writing Program
- LAW-D 520 Legal Analysis, Research and Communication I (2 cr.) Introduces students to sources of law, the nature of precedent, legal research, common law and statutory analysis, objective and persuasive legal writing, appellate advocacy, and the drafting of legal documents.
- LAW-D 521 Legal Analysis, Research and Communication II (2 cr.) Introduces students to sources of law, the nature of precedent, legal research, common law and statutory analysis, objective and persuasive legal writing, appellate advocacy, and the drafting of legal documents.
- LAW-D 522 Advanced Persuasive Writing and Oral Advocacy (2 cr.) P: Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I and II (DN520 and DN521). Although not a prerequisite, Evidence (DN632) is a strongly encouraged precursor to the course. Explores advanced techniques in persuasive writing and oral advocacy. The course assignments will cover civil and criminal matters in a trial court setting.
- LAW-D 523 Principles of Rhetoric (2-3 cr.) Knowing there is insufficient time during the first year writing course to explore in depth the different aspects of the classical rhetorical techniques used to persuade - the appeal to logos, pathos, and ethos - this course will provide further instruction on the way these techniques are applied for persuasive effect. The course will not focus on writing specific legal documents; instead, students will critically read about and review rhetorical techniques used in the legal community and through social media and then apply those techniques when writing individual and group exercises for review. The course will begin with an in-class session; the remainder of the class will be online. Online quizzes and written exercises for review will be assigned throughout the course, culminating in an online exam.
- LAW-D 528 Legal Research (1 cr.) This course is designed to provide law students with the basic legal research skills essential for successful law practice. Topics include sources of law and types of authority, secondary sources, case law, statutes, administrative regulations, legislative history, authority verification, computer-assisted legal research, and developing and implementing a successful legal research plan. Since learning legal research requires a hands-on approach, students are required to complete various weekly assignments involving research problems as well as a final examination. The faculty recommends that students undertake their advanced research and writing project in conjunction with this course. FULL TIME STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THIS COURSE IN THE FALL SEMESTER OF THEIR SECOND YEAR. PART TIME STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THIS COURSE IN THE SPRING SEMESTER OF THEIR SECOND YEAR. THIS REQUIREMENT, HOWEVER, APPLIES ONLY TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED LARC III BEFORE THE FALL SEMESTER, 2010. As this course will normally be taught online, the law school's distance education policy applies to it.
- LAW-D/N 538 Basic Contract Drafting (2 cr.) P: Completion of Contracts and Sales I & II and LARC I & II. This course provides introductory training in the basic techniques of contract drafting. Through classroom discussion, reading assignments, in-class exercises, and drafting assignments, students will learn about different contract concepts; how to translate agreed terms into enforceable provisions that concisely and precisely reflect the contracting parties' intent; and how to draft a logically organized contract in plain English.
- LAW-D 539 Litigation Drafting (2 cr.) This course focuses on drafting complaints, answers, motions, interrogatories, and other documents required to prepare a case for trial. Trial and post-trial motions may be included. Students will conduct legal research and fact investigation in simulated cases or scenarios. Strategic decisions in case development and the ethics of advocacy will be considered. Students who enroll at any time in this course may not enroll in Lawyering Practice, and this course is not available to students who have completed LARC III.
- LAW-D 661 Supervised Research (1-4 cr.) P: Permission of instructor. Requires the student to write an in-depth and comprehensive research paper on a current legal problem. (Approximately 25 pages, exclusive of footnotes, are required for each hour of credit.) Supervised Research may be taken in a student's last semester in law school: 1.If the student is a candidate for the J.D. degree, only under the following conditions: (a) the student is taking at least one course or seminar requiring classroom attendance, and (b) the student enrolls in the course during fall or spring semester; or 2. If the student is a candidate for the LL.M. degree, the course may be taken in any semester whether or not the student in enrolled in any other course.
- LAW-D 664 Advanced Legal Research (2-3 cr.) Building on the basic research skills and techniques covered in the basic course, Legal Research, this course offers students an opportunity to gain in-depth working knowledge of legal research resources and methods. This course is intended to develop a mastery of legal research beyond the level of the standard first year curriculum. The course will cover several major areas of legal research, including, but not limited to extensive coverage of primary and secondary sources, practice and specialized topical resources, international law, cost-effective legal research, legislative history and administrative law, legal resources on the Internet and advanced training on LEXIS and WESTLAW. Course objectives are: 1) to expand students’ skills in primary and secondary US legal sources, in all formats; 2) to teach students how to evaluate resources and use them effectively, with particular emphasis on cost-effective research; 3) to help students develop efficient online research skills; 4) to introduce students to some non-legal information resources. Students are required to complete weekly research assignments and a comprehensive research assignment. This is an online course, and the law school’s distance education policy applies.