Writing 109L—Writing for the Legal Profession
Instructor: James H. Donelan
Monday 8:00-9:15, HSSB 1236
Wednesday 8:00-9:15, Phelps 1529
Enroll Code: 43109
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office: 1523 South Hall
Office Hours: Monday, 9:30-10:30, Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 or by appointment.
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. http://connectweb.com/ucsb.asp
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:
Syllabus
3/28
Introduction and Logistics
3/30
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Reading: Clear,
Chapters 1-3
Homework: Two-paragraph description of the structure of the American legal
system. Have the assignment available in class as either a Microsoft Word or
html file.
In-class: Introduction to ConnectWeb; comparison of descriptions
4/4
Reading: Clear,
Chapters 4-6; Knowles v. Iowa (reader).
Homework: Two-paragraph summary of Knowles v. Iowa, posted on
ConnectWeb.
In-class: Case briefs
4/6
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Reading: Clear,
Chapter 7
Homework: Rough draft of Knowles v. Iowa brief.
In-class: Creating a comprehensive brief
4/11
Reading: Clear, Chapter 8
Homework: Case brief due.
In-class: Getting a brief right
II: Paragraph Development: The Legal Memorandum and the Advocacy Letter
4/13
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Reading: Clear, Chapter 13
Homework: Two-paragraph summary of Red and Sue issues (described on
ConnectWeb).
In-class: Beginning legal research.
4/18
Class meets in Davidson Library.
4/20
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Reading: Clear,
Chapter 10
Homework: Memorandum outline and boilerplate.
In-class: Writing persuasive memos.
4/25
Reading: Clear, Chapter 11
Homework: Full draft of memorandum; bring a hard copy to class.
In-class: Editing and proofreading.
4/27
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Homework: Memorandum due.
In-class: Peer review of memoranda.
5/2
Readings: Clear,
Chapter 9
Homework: Letter strategies.
In-class: Paragraph structure.
5/4
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Homework: Draft of advocacy letter.
In-class: Paragraph transitions and peer review.
5/6 Advocacy Letter due.
III: Writing Longer Arguments: The Appellate Brief
5/11
Readings: Clear,
Chapter 15; Amarin v. Maryland Cup briefs (reader)
Homework: Summary of Amarin arguments.
In-class: Preparing an appeal.
5/13
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Readings:
Appellate brief assignment and accompanying article (reader)
Homework: Find a partner and formulate a timeline.
In-class: Task lists and schedules.
5/16
Readings:
"Copyright Basics" (reader)
Homework: List of relevant cases.
In-class: Argument and strategy
5/18
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Readings: Clear,
Chapters 7-9 (review)
Homework: Outline of appeal.
In-class: Logic and argument
5/23
Homework: First half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for clarity
5/25
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today.
Group Meetings.
5/30 Memorial Day
6/1
Class meets in 1529 Phelps today. Full draft due.
In-class: Peer review of appeals.
Final class.
6/8
Appellate brief due. Place a hard copy in my mailbox by 12:00 noon.