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Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:49 pm
by SKlei
Just curious how this works at other schools...

At my school, legal writing is a 3 credit course. Our brief is 100% of our grade and you get one 20 minute conference with the professor. At the conference she would only read one point heading. For oral arguments, if you don't do well it won't hurt you, however if you do well your grade gets bumped up.

Getting nervous about this grade as I already realized I messed up a string citation and feel that I did not put in enough facts into my applications sections, but rather, tried to show why the other side is wrong, and think I totally messed this up.

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:14 pm
by jess
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Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:44 pm
by spleenworship
2 three credit courses, two written assignments for each (graded) and graded oral arguments in the second semester worth a small amount of points.

Sorry to hear that you might have issues with your grade. Hope it works out for you.

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:27 pm
by bns_77
4 required classes throughout law school

Fall 1L = 3 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (closed memo, open memo, open memo rewrite). Conferences along the way.

Spring 1L = 2 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (trial brief, appellate brief, oral argument). Used to be another graded appellate brief re-write, but that got nixed because Gen Y are inept pussies.

Then there are two other LW classes taken 2L year, one transactional another focused on a particular area of law. One of those can be opted out of if you do other things like LR or moot court.

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:21 pm
by LOLyer
"If you don't do well it won't hurt you" is a fallacy if your class is graded on a curve.

Just sayin.

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:51 pm
by HWS08
bns_77 wrote:4 required classes throughout law school

Fall 1L = 3 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (closed memo, open memo, open memo rewrite). Conferences along the way.

Spring 1L = 2 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (trial brief, appellate brief, oral argument). Used to be another graded appellate brief re-write, but that got nixed because Gen Y are inept pussies.

Then there are two other LW classes taken 2L year, one transactional another focused on a particular area of law. One of those can be opted out of if you do other things like LR or moot court.
Wow, what school is this (if you don't mind saying). I think that's the most intense writing program I've heard of.

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:57 pm
by spleenworship
HWS08 wrote:
bns_77 wrote:4 required classes throughout law school

Fall 1L = 3 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (closed memo, open memo, open memo rewrite). Conferences along the way.

Spring 1L = 2 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (trial brief, appellate brief, oral argument). Used to be another graded appellate brief re-write, but that got nixed because Gen Y are inept pussies.

Then there are two other LW classes taken 2L year, one transactional another focused on a particular area of law. One of those can be opted out of if you do other things like LR or moot court.
Wow, what school is this (if you don't mind saying). I think that's the most intense writing program I've heard of.
My school is like this as well. Of course, I am not interested in saying which one, but the above is dissimilar enough I believe we are talking about two different schools. But the basic format of four writing courses is the same. We actually have another writing/research related one on top of that.

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:18 pm
by bns_77
HWS08 wrote:
bns_77 wrote:4 required classes throughout law school

Fall 1L = 3 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (closed memo, open memo, open memo rewrite). Conferences along the way.

Spring 1L = 2 credit hour class with 3 graded assignments (trial brief, appellate brief, oral argument). Used to be another graded appellate brief re-write, but that got nixed because Gen Y are inept pussies.

Then there are two other LW classes taken 2L year, one transactional another focused on a particular area of law. One of those can be opted out of if you do other things like LR or moot court.
Wow, what school is this (if you don't mind saying). I think that's the most intense writing program I've heard of.
I'd rather not say, but it has a reputation for being a good/intense program.

While I somewhat scoffed at the lightened load for Spring 1L, it was a beeeeach when I did it. People were basically taking a dive on the last assignment because, well, 2 credit LW v. 5 credit Civ Pro-- Make your choice!

Re: Legal Writing Courses

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:54 am
by susancollins
Legal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and others in law to Express Legal analysis and legal rights and duties.
The legal writing courses focuses more on the following ,
(1) predictive analysis, i.e., an outcome-predicting memorandum (positive or negative) of a given action for the attorney's client; and (2) persuasive analysis, e.g., motions and briefs.