rationale for unit:
Legal writing exists for many audiences in many environments. Students goals may range from academia to journalism to the practice of law. However, before embarking on legal writing for a lay audience, whether a lawyer or not, it is helpful to understand how legal writing (and reading) work in an academic environment. For instance, understanding key Supreme Court case law is a helpful foundation for everything else. Understanding how to read and apply a Federal Rule of Evidence or a state statute is essential before attempting to explain it to a client or relay it in a news article. The language of the law is inherently academic.
Unit 2 reviews how to read and brief a case properly (a unique task in and of itself), how to write a law school essay exam answer, legal memo, and outline an academic article. Citation styles and legal research are briefly reviewed. This unit will also have students review the most commonly cited cases in American jurisprudence (e.g. free speech, race, discrimination) and cases with key connections to current legal debates (e.g. immigration, education, gun rights).
“The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.” – Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Unit 2 teaches the rules.
Overview Calendar: unit 2
WEekly lesson plans
Week 6
Bluebook
Briefed Case
Writing in the Law 