Looking for a Legal Writing Course/Books Forum

[La Grind Date]

Sup guys,

I am reading Richard Montauk's book HOW TO GET INTO THE TOP LAW SCHOOLS. He suggests that 0Ls step up their legal writing games in order to do really well in the 1L year. He suggests taking a course in legal writing or taking a class in ordinary writing/copyediting. I wonder:

1. Do any of you guys know of an inexpensive/free course in legal writing on the 'net or in Wash DC?

2. Do any of you guys have book suggestions that might help me in this area.


Your help would be greatly appreciated.

[mac.empress]

Ignore the dude who wrote the book.

/thread.

[OperaAttorney]

Sup guys,

I am reading Richard Montauk's book HOW TO GET INTO THE TOP LAW SCHOOLS. He suggests that 0Ls step up their legal writing games in order to do really well in the 1L year. He suggests taking a course in legal writing or taking a class in ordinary writing/copyediting. I wonder:

1. Do any of you guys know of an inexpensive/free course in legal writing on the 'net or in Wash DC?

2. Do any of you guys have book suggestions that might help me in this area.


Your help would be greatly appreciated.

1. I wouldn't recommend paying for a legal writing course. The legal writing course at your LAW SCHOOL will count for only a few semester hours. And if you already know how to correctly construct simple, concise sentences, you'll push past many of your classmates.

2. To start, I'd get Bryan A. Garner's THE ELEMENTS OF LEGAL STYLE. You'll review the basics, get some helpful hints, and read prose written by some of our nation's best legal writers.

[OperaAttorney]

Why is TLS turning "law school" into "law skool" in my post? Is this some April Fool's joke?

[270910]

Why is lishi turning "lawl skool" into "law skool" in my post? Is this some April Fool's joke?

Turning into? Are you feeling alright?

[OperaAttorney]

Why is lishi turning "lawl skool" into "law skool" in my post? Is this some April Fool's joke?

Turning into? Are you feeling alright?

In plain English: This website is screwing with my posts. When I type A and click on "submit," X shows up instead.

[270910]

Why is lishi turning "lawl skool" into "law skool" in my post? Is this some April Fool's joke?

Turning into? Are you feeling alright?

In plain English: This website is screwing with my posts. When I type A and click on "submit," X shows up instead.

Doesn't happen to me at all?

[vexion]

(urgh...)

It's a wordfilter imposed as an April Fool's joke. Certain common terms automatically turn into other terms. Including the aforementioned, a couple of acronyms (expression of laughter), the names of almost all of the T14 (excepting NYU for whatever reason), the word zero-L...

[Renzo]

1. I wouldn't recommend paying for a legal writing course. The legal writing course at your lawl skool will count for only a few semester hours. And if you already know how to correctly construct simple, concise sentences, you'll push past many of your classmates.

2. To start, I'd get Bryan A. Garner's THE ELEMENTS OF LEGAL STYLE. You'll review the basics, get some helpful hints, and read prose written by some of our nation's best legal writers.

Agreed on both counts.

However, a general writing or editing class can only help. As mentioned above, plenty of law students can't correctly construct simple sentences, so if you can avoid being one of them you'll be in good shape. If you have the time and money to burn, a non-credit college writing class would only help.

[La Grind Date]

Renzo & OperaAttorney,

Thanks a lot for your advice!