Legal Research & Writing – 6002

Fall 2015
Christopher Soper

This year-long course covers the process of communicating about the law. Our goal is to teach students the building blocks of legal communication through multiple practice exercises so that students can repeat the process on their own after successful completion of the course. In the fall (one credit), we begin at orientation with a short exercise, then move on to email, letter, and office memorandum exercises written in an objective/predictive mode. In the spring (two credits), we proceed gradually to a persuasive trial court brief and delivery of formal oral arguments. The spring also includes a Statutory Interpretation module (one credit).

The course is taught in sections of approximately 8-10 students. Instructors hold conferences with individual student once per semester and provide written feedback on every assignment. Throughout the year, students attend online and in-person research and citation tutorials and observe appellate court hearings.

Students receive a grade on an H/P/LP/F scale based on legal communication (comprised of legal analysis and legal writing) and legal professionalism.