Legal Writing, A Contemporary Approach

Guides first year law students and those new to legal writing through the thinking and writing process used in the legal profession. It builds skills gradually and introduces students to reading and briefing cases, gathering facts using various methods, drafting memoranda and client communications, and writing for the court. Students will also learn to edit their work and the work of others.

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This new Legal Writing textbook guides first year law students and those new to legal writing through the thinking and writing process used in the legal profession. It builds skills gradually and introduces students to reading and briefing cases, gathering facts using various methods, drafting memoranda and client communications, and writing for the court. Students will also learn to edit their work and the work of others for style and substance.

The text gives examples for students to use as models and has many interactive exercises through which students can test their newly acquired skills. The online text has links to the cases that students will need, definitions, videos, and exercises to help them hone their writing skills. In addition to learning about written documents and how to communicate in the U.S. common law system, the authors provide an international perspective. Students will learn about civil law traditions through the comparative exercises included in this text. The text also addresses ways to stay focused and reduce stress during law school and in legal careers through the concept of mindful lawyering. Examples in writing and on video showing how judges and lawyers stay focused and mindful are linked in the text. Students should enjoy working with this material and the online components of the text and will benefit from the unique features this interactive casebook offers.