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Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:48 pm
by ph14
Looking for some general tips on my closed memo. I feel like i'm struggling quite a bit with it. Would appreciate any general advice or tips.

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:55 pm
by iheartregstate
Did you get any tipsheets from the prof? Any examples of old ones? Have a legal writing book? Have a recommended paradigm? That's a pretty broad plea for help :)

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:46 pm
by kalvano
Did you get examples of old memos? Make yours look, as close as possible, to that.

Is it graded LRW?

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:49 pm
by ph14
kalvano wrote:Did you get examples of old memos? Make yours look, as close as possible, to that.

Is it graded LRW?
Yes we did get sample memos. I'll definitely check them out more closely, thanks for the tip. And yes it is graded.

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:25 pm
by imadummie
this might be a stupid question, but after we researched the case from westlaw/lexis/etc., are we supposed to get the regional books bluebook tell us to cite in order to pinpoint the pages? I appreciate the help, I did not want to go to the T.A to get the live "ARE U KIDDING ME?" look.

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:31 pm
by Flips88
imadummie wrote:this might be a stupid question, but after we researched the case from westlaw/lexis/etc., are we supposed to get the regional books bluebook tell us to cite in order to pinpoint the pages? I appreciate the help, I did not want to go to the T.A to get the live "ARE U KIDDING ME?" look.
If it's a closed memo, then there shouldn't be any outside research. I find it hard to believe you are doing an open memo this early in the year

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:36 pm
by ph14
imadummie wrote:this might be a stupid question, but after we researched the case from westlaw/lexis/etc., are we supposed to get the regional books bluebook tell us to cite in order to pinpoint the pages? I appreciate the help, I did not want to go to the T.A to get the live "ARE U KIDDING ME?" look.
I think Westlaw gives you the pages. They are marked in the text by either one or two asterisks. They look something like **783.

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:36 pm
by random5483
Flips88 wrote:
imadummie wrote:this might be a stupid question, but after we researched the case from westlaw/lexis/etc., are we supposed to get the regional books bluebook tell us to cite in order to pinpoint the pages? I appreciate the help, I did not want to go to the T.A to get the live "ARE U KIDDING ME?" look.
If it's a closed memo, then there shouldn't be any outside research. I find it hard to believe you are doing an open memo this early in the year

Closed memo = cite to the pages of whatever is given to you.

Open memo = cite to the case, the pages will be listed on westlaw/lexis. You don't need to find the actual reporter. Some sources require physical book cites, but I never had to do that as a 1L.

Re: Closed Memo Tips

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:14 pm
by ilovesf
We already had one memo due last week, but it wasn't graded. We already have our research for our next memo due Tuesday. For both we had to look up cases, statutes, etc.
Just make sure all of your cites are correct. It seems like every prof has weird specific requirements (like mine hates the word thus and doesn't want us to use it for whatever reason), so you just need to figure those out.