Writing in the Law

Unit 1: FoundationS (Weeks 1-5)

• Introductions
  • Defining Justice
• Fundamental Characteristics of Solid (Legal) Writing
  • The Importance of Audience
    • Key Terms and Essential Vocabulary
    • Legalese: What is it and how do we avoid it?
  • Access to Justice and Access to Language
• Lloyd Bitzer and Introduction of “The Rhetorical Situation”
  • Application of “The Rhetorical Situation” to historical events.
    • Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” (April 3, 1968)
    • Robert F. Kennedy, “On the Assassination of Martin Luther King” (April 4, 1968)
  • Richard Vatz and “The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation”
• The Rogerian Method
• The Toulmin Method
• Major Assignment #1: Argument Applied: Rhetorical Review of a Legal Text, an in-depth analysis of Atticus Finch’s Closing Argument in To Kill a Mockingbird

Unit 2: Legal Writing For an Academic Audience (Weeks 6-9)

• Key Documents and Common Issues:
  • The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
  • Constitutional Case Law
    • How to Read, Brief, and Cite a Case
    • Applied: Key Constitutional Case Law, the Warren Court Era and Beyond
      • Free Speech: Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969); Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)
      • Fundamental Rights, Equal Protection, and Race: Loving v. Virginia (1967)
      • Immigration (& Education): Plyler v. Doe (1982)
      • 2nd Amendment: District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)
• Law School
  • Essay Exams
  • Legal Memorandums
  • Law Review and other Academic Journal Articles
  • Bluebook Citations
• Major Assignment #2: Supreme Court Case Brief, Argument Analysis, and Academic Article Abstract

Unit 3: Legal Writing for a public Audience

Part A: Legal writing for A lay audience (Weeks 10-12)

• When and Where Does Legal Writing Show Up Everyday
  • Media
    • Opinion Editorials
    • News/Current Events
    • Commentary on Court Proceedings
      • Applied: Charlie Kirk, Free Speech, Political Violence, and Gun Rights
  • Tickets/Police Reports & Criminal Records
    • Rights Upon Arrest
      • Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
      • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
  • Major Assignment #3: Opinion-Editorial for an In-Need Audience

Part B: Legal Writing for a lay audience (BY a Lawyer) (weeks 13 & 14)

• Rules of Professional Conduct and Responsibility
• Federal Rules of Evidence
• Client Communications
  • Intake Interview
  • Engagement Letter
• Trial Level
  • Jury Selection
  • Opening Statement
  • Direct Examination
  • Cross Examination
  • Closing Argument
  • Jury Instructions
• Appellate Level
  • Opening Brief
  • Oral Argument

CONNECTIONS, Common Ground, And Course Reflections (Week 15)

• Major Assignment #4: Extended Written Reflection

Additional ResourcES (Optional readings, etc.)

Works cited