Writing 109L—Writing for the Legal Profession

Instructor: James H. Donelan
Tuesday 9:30-10:45, Phelps 1525
Thursday 9:30-10:45, HSSB 1231
Enroll Code: 46805
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office: 1523 South Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday, 12:30-1:15; Wednesday, 10-11

Texts: All books are available in the UCen Book Store.
Erhardt, Charrow, and Charrow, Clear and Effective Legal Writing
Garner, Black's Law Dictionary (pocket)
A reader at Graphikart in Isla Vista
Computer Program: The course requires the use of an online program, ConnectWeb, which costs $20.

Course Description: Practice in applying rules to facts in analyzing issues and in writing clearly, succinctly and cogently in various forms of legal discourse.

Requirements: The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including case briefs and legal analysis. You will write a case brief, a legal memorandum, an advocacy letter, an appellate brief, and several pre-writing assignments. The relative value of these assignments and class participation in determining your course grade is as follows:

a. Case brief—10%
b. Memo—20%
c. Letter—20%
d. Appellate brief—35%
e. Participation and completion of other homework assignments—15%

In addition, please note the following rules:



Syllabus


I: Terms, Definitions, and Sentences: The Case Brief

1 /4
Introduction and Logistics

1 /6
Reading: Clear, Chapters 1-3
Homework: Two-paragraph description of the structure of the American legal system.
In-class: Comparison of descriptions; discussion of legal system

1 /11
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525

Reading: Clear, Chapters 4-6; Knowles v. Iowa (reader).
Homework: Two-paragraph summary of Knowles v. Iowa, posted on ConnectWeb.
In-class: Case briefs

1/13
Reading: Clear, Chapter 7
Homework: Rough draft of Knowles v. Iowa brief.
In-class: Creating a comprehensive brief

1/18
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525

Reading: Clear, Chapter 8
Homework: Case brief due.
In-class: Getting a brief right.

II: Paragraph Development: The Legal Memorandum and the Advocacy Letter

1/20
Reading: Clear, Chapter 13
Homework: Two-paragraph summary of Red and Sue issues (described on ConnectWeb).
In-class: Beginning legal research.

1 /25
Class meets in Davidson Library.

1/27
Reading: Clear, Chapter 10
Homework: Memorandum outline and boilerplate.
In-class: Writing persuasive memos.

2/1
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525

Reading: Clear, Chapter 11
Homework: Half of rough draft of memorandum.
In-class: Editing and proofreading.

2/3
Homework: Full Rough Draft of Memorandum due; bring a hard copy to class.
In-class: Peer review of memoranda.

2/8
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525

Readings: Clear, Chapter 9
Homework: Letter Outline
In-class: Paragraph structure.

2/10
Homework: Draft of advocacy letter; bring hard copy to class.
In-class: Paragraph transitions and peer review.

2/11 Advocacy Letter due.

III: Writing Longer Arguments: The Appellate Brief

2/15

Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525
Readings: Clear, Chapter 15; Amarin v. Maryland Cup briefs (reader)
Homework: Summary of Amarin arguments.
In-class: Preparing an appeal.

2/17
Readings: Appellate brief assignment and accompanying article (reader)
Homework: Find a partner and formulate a timeline.
In-class: Task lists and schedules.

2/22
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525.

Readings: "Copyright Basics" (reader)
Homework: List of relevant cases.
In-class: Argument and strategy

2/24
Readings: Clear, Chapters 7-9 (review)
Homework: Outline of appeal.
In-class: Logic and argument

3/1
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525.

Homework: First half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for clarity

3/3
Group Meetings.

3/8
Class meets in Mesa Lab, Phelps 1525.
Homework: Second half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for rhetorical force

3/10
In-class: Peer review of appeals; bring hard copy to class.
Final class.

3/15
Appellate brief due. Place a hard copy in my mailbox by 12:00 noon.