| block quote legal writing: Elegant Legal Writing Ryan McCarl, 2024-02-06 Elegant Legal Writing provides short, practical tips to help attorneys make their writing as clear and readable as possible, reducing the reader's cognitive burden so they can focus on your argument-- |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing for Real Lawyers Russell T. Bowlan, J.D., M.A., 2013-06 This is not another tedious rulebook littered with unfounded gimmicks contrived at a faculty mixer. Here you will find relevant advice from an attorney who has been writing trial and appellate briefs on the frontlines for two decades. Amid the new material in this expanded edition, Mr. Bowlan subdues the oft dreaded summary judgment response. And the gloves come off when he addresses legal ethics in the Epilogue - Welcome to the Dark Side - a must-read for every law student who intends to become a practicing lawyer. What do Trolls, Curmudgeons and Yapping Chihuahuas have to do with legal writing? Open the cover and find out. |
| block quote legal writing: The Legal Writer Gerald Lebovits, 2016 |
| block quote legal writing: The Handbook for the New Legal Writer Jill Barton, Rachel H. Smith, 2023-03-09 The Handbook for the New Legal Writer, Third Edition, is the practical guide to the foundational skills that law students need. With concise and easy-to-follow instructions, a variety of annotated examples, and the clarifying concept of “anchors,” the Handbook is a student-centered text that engages and accompanies students throughout the first-year legal writing course, and beyond. The purchase of this ebook edition does not entitle you to receive access to the Connected eBook with Study Center on CasebookConnect. You will need to purchase a new print book to get access to the full experience, including: lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities; practice questions from your favorite study aids; an outline tool and other helpful resources. The Handbook for the New Legal Writer focuses on showing (not telling) students how to write effective legal documents using step-by-step instructions and annotated examples. The Handbook uses the term “anchors” throughout to help students deepen their understanding and analysis of legal questions. In an easy-to-read style, the Handbook guides students through the entire first-year legal research, writing, and analysis curriculum. The Handbook covers predictive and persuasive writing in the form of memos, motions, and appellate briefs; as well as professional correspondence in the form of emails, letters, and instant messages; exam writing; judicial writing; oral argument; legal research and citation; and grammar, punctuation, and style. For each topic, the Handbook provides examples (written by the authors or by judges and practicing attorneys), along with detailed explanations that demonstrate how to write with care and clarity. The Handbook is a resource that will guide students throughout law school and into their legal careers. New to the Third Edition: New sidebars throughout the text that address issues of mindfulness, wellness, equity, and inclusion that are important to students More samples of legal documents, prepared by the authors More examples of excellent legal writing by judges and attorneys Professors and students will benefit from: Comprehensive coverage of all first-year legal writing topics: predictive and persuasive writing, grammar and writing style, professional correspondence, exam writing, judicial writing, oral argument, research, and citation Concise and readable text The authors’ original “anchors” concept that helps students recognize salient facts or points of law in case reading and analysis Short and longer annotated examples (written by judges, practitioners, and the authors) illustrate effective legal writing in various formats, including objective memos, correspondence, persuasive memos, motions, appellate briefs, and mor Checklists at the end of each chapter for study and review |
| block quote legal writing: Point Made Ross Guberman, 2014-04 In Point Made, Ross Guberman uses the work of great advocates as the basis of a valuable, step-by-step brief-writing and motion-writing strategy for practitioners. The author takes an empirical approach, drawing heavily on the writings of the nation's 50 most influential lawyers. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing Richard K. Neumann, Sheila Simon, Suzianne D. Painter-Thorne, 2023-01-31 Engaging text for legal writing written with today’s student in mind Written in a style that engages students, Legal Writing, Fifth Edition, includes outstanding coverage on organizing analysis according to the CREAC formula, the writing process, storytelling techniques, rule analysis, statutory interpretation, and professionalism. In addition, the book has dynamic student resources including classroom and independent exercises, self-assessment checklists, and other learning tools. The purchase of this ebook edition does not entitle you to receive access to the Connected eBook with Study Center on CasebookConnect. You will need to purchase a new print book to get access to the full experience, including: lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities; practice questions from your favorite study aids; an outline tool and other helpful resources. New to the Fifth Edition: Chapters are carefully edited and streamlined, providing focused coverage of the entire writing process New Sample Appellate Brief in Appendix D Clearer presentation of statutory interpretation and rule analysis in legal writing Professors and students will benefit from: The compact, conversational tone Short, accessible assignments and exercises Checklists that help students assess their own writing An engaging mix of theory and reality Coverage featuring: Storytelling techniques in persuasive argument The CREAC formula for organizing analysis The role of persuasive point headings in constructing an argument Elements of professionalism that must be considered |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing and Other Lawyering Skills Nancy Lusignan Schultz, 2014-03-04 With a consistent emphasis on precision and good organization, this text teaches students how to draft memoranda, opinion letters, pleadings, briefs, and other legal documents, as well as communications skills including client counseling, negotiating, and presenting oral arguments. Features: An expanded chapter on trial briefs, including pretrial motion briefs A new chapter on communicating by email A new chapter on time management A new chapter on mediation and related documents. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing from the Ground Up Tracy Turner, 2015-01-30 Legal Writing from the Ground Up: Process, Principles, and Possibilities breaks down legal writing into a step-by-step process but avoids a one-size-fits-all approach. This book helps legal writing professors balance the need to encourage original and strategic thinking while providing guidance for students as they develop their legal writing skills. Tracy Turner writes with today s generation of students in mind, and helps to arm student with specific and powerful tools without shackling their creativity. Key Features Multiple adaptations of the Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion (IRAC) paradigm that reflect a different approaches to problem solving Different strategic considerations in selecting the right analytical model for a particular case Consistent emphasis on the foundations of legal analysis Proven-effective techniques for continuing skill development Visual aids that are transferable learning tools, such as charts and diagrams Critical reading techniques, clearly explained Visually navigable pages and the author s direct and engaging writing style An intuitively logical organization of content, that easily adapts to myriad approaches to teaching and study |
| block quote legal writing: The Indigo Book Christopher Jon Sprigman, 2017-07-11 This public domain book is an open and compatible implementation of the Uniform System of Citation. |
| block quote legal writing: Level Up Your Legal Writing Joseph Regalia, 2024-09-15 Primary text for law school courses on Persuasive or Advanced Legal Writing, and a handbook for lawyers who want to advance their legal writing skills-- |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing I and II Ben L. Fernandez, 2023-06-11 Legal Writing I & II; Legal Research and Writing & Introduction to Litigation Practice contains a brief discussion of all of the topics covered in a law school courses on legal writing, including a typical first semester course on legal research, analysis and writing an objective memorandum, as well as a second semester course on persuasion and writing an appellate brief, motion to dismiss or motion for summary judgment. The discussion focuses on the basics of analogical reasoning and persuasion and leaves out the minutiae. Each topic is taken one step at a time, with each step building on the step before it. The sources of law are presented first, then legal research, and reading and analyzing cases and statutes. The book covers analogizing a case to a fact pattern and marshaling the relevant facts to the elements of a statutory rule next. And then first section of the book concludes with legal citation, CRAC and CREAC, and writing a legal research memorandum. The text also includes a lot of samples and examples of how the author would write a case brief, a legal memoranda and an appellate brief, as well as an appendix with charts, outlines and exercises students can use to practice these skills. Legal Writing I & II; Legal Research and Writing & Introduction to Litigation Practice covers all the skills students need to know to work at a law firm, and everything students have to learn to begin practicing in litigation department of a firm. The chapters of the book are as follows: 1.Sources of Law (Local Ordinances and Bylaws, State and Federal Law: Statutes, Regulations, Cases, Executive Orders, International Treaties, Compacts, and Agreements) 2.Legal Research (Secondary Sources, Researching Statutes, Researching Cases, Paper Research v. Computer Research) 3.Briefing Cases (Facts, Issue, Rule, Holding, Reasoning) 4.Applying Cases and Analogical Reasoning (Analogizing a Case to a Fact Pattern, Distinguishing a Case from a Fact Pattern) 5.Analyzing Statutes and Marshaling Facts (Determining a Statutory Formula, Definitions, Marshaling Facts to a Statutory Rule, Comparing a Case Interpreting a Statutory Rule to a Fact Pattern) 6.Citation (How to Cite Cases, How to Cite Statutes and Regulations, Quotations, Signals, Parentheticals, Reference Materials) 7.IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion, Using “IREAC” when it is Necessary to Explain the Rule, Using “Ferrari Has Really Cool Race Cars” when it is Necessary to Analogize or Distinguish a Case, Synthesizing a Rule from Multiple Cases, Explaining and Applying a Rule with Multiple Cases) 8. Objective Legal Memoranda (Organization of a Research Memo, Sample Memo) 9. Other Examples of Legal writing (Client Letters, Exam Answers) 10. Improving Your Writing (Additional Tips and Resources) 11. Credibility in Persuasive Writing (the importance of writing well) 12. Bias (Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, Dealing with Bias in Others) 13. Ethical Rules for Advocacy (Competence, Diligent, Honesty and Fairness) 14. Civil and Appellate Procedure (Rules for the Form and Content of Briefs and Memos) 15. Requirements for Civil Motions and Standards of Review for Appeals 16. Persuasive Writing (Writing Persuasive Facts, Writing Persuasive Arguments) 17. Memoranda in Support of Motions (Applying the Rules of Civil Procedure to a Sample Memo) 18. Motion Session (Arguing a Motion Before a Trial Court Judge) 19. Appellate Briefs (Applying the Rules of Appellate Procedure to a Sample Brief) 20. Oral Argument (Arguing an Appeal before a Panel of Appellate Court Judges) In addition, there are numerous examples, exercises and sample documents in the appendix. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing Linda H. Edwards, 2018-01-31 Legal Writing: Process, Analysis, and Organization, Seventh Edition by the 2017 Burton Award recipient and renowned author, Linda Edwards, is the only legal writing text that uses a process approach, presenting writing as a logical sequence of steps. Streamlined to meet the needs of today’s students, the Seventh Edition uses adult learning theory concepts and a “flipped classroom” approach to add even greater focus and efficiency to classroom and study time. Key Features: New Chapter (4) on working with statutes. Updated chapter on citation Improved coverage of brief-writing Streamlined chapter on letter writing to better meet the need of a first-year course. Modern process approach, with streamlined content for better absorption by students Clear and informal language Helpful appendices offering sample of office memos, sample letters, and appellate briefs. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing in Plain English, Third Edition Bryan A. Garner, 2023-09-06 The leading guide to clear writing!--StartFragment --—and clear thinking!--StartFragment --—in the legal profession for more than two decades, now newly updated. Admirably clear, concise, down-to-earth, and powerful—all too often, legal writing embodies none of these qualities. Its reputation for obscurity and needless legalese is widespread. Since 2001, Bryan A. Garner’s Legal Writing in Plain English has helped address this problem by providing lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars with sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work. Now the leading guide to clear writing in the field, this indispensable volume encourages legal writers to challenge conventions and offers valuable insights into the writing process: how to organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills. Accessible and witty, Legal Writing in Plain English draws on real-life writing samples that Garner has gathered through decades of teaching experience. Trenchant advice covers all types of legal materials, from analytical and persuasive writing to legal drafting, and the book’s principles are reinforced by sets of basic, intermediate, and advanced exercises in each section. For this third edition, Garner has retained the structure of the previous versions, with updates and new material throughout. There are new sections on making your writing vivid and concrete and on using graphics to enhance your argument. The coverage and examples of key topics such as achieving parallelism, avoiding legalese, writing effective openers and summaries, and weaving quotations into your text have also been expanded. And the sample legal documents and exercises have been updated, while newly added checklists provide quick summaries of each section. Altogether, this new edition will be the most useful yet for legal professionals and students seeking to improve their prose. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing Nerd Wayne Schiess, 2018-11-30 Wayne Schiess's monthly column on legal writing has appeared in Austin Lawyer magazine for more than ten years. Now, Legal-Writing Nerd collects the best of those columns and presents them in a practical, useful book that's bound to raise your writing IQ. Lawyers, judges, paralegals, and law students will find dozens of ways to improve their legal writing in this informative and plainly written book. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing and Analysis Linda H. Edwards, 2019-02-02 This streamlined text offers a straightforward guide to developing legal writing and analysis skills for beginning legal writers. Legal Writing and Analysis, Fifth Edition by Linda Edwards, leads students logically through reading and analyzing the law, writing the discussion of a legal question, and writing office memos, letters, and briefs. The text includes chapters on citation form, writing style, professionalism, and oral argument. The book features special focus on forms of legal reasoning (rules, analogies, policies, principles, customs, inferences, and narrative) complete with examples and exercises. It teaches students to recognize rule structures and use them to organize their document. New to the Fifth Edition: Streamlined chapters and exercises Updated citation materials covering current editions of both citation manuals Product page featuring more material on professional letters and accessible coverage and use of legal theory Professors and students will benefit from: Contextual learning, including important legal method material Superior treatment of how to organize a legal discussion Clear, ample coverage of legal reasoning Practice-oriented approach Numerous examples and short exercises for formative assessment Strong coverage of professional responsibility |
| block quote legal writing: The Pocket Guide to Legal Writing William H. Putman, 2006 This reference resource, designed as a desk book for use by legal students, practicing paralegals, legal assistants, and attorneys, allows the user to quickly obtain answers to the most commonly encountered questions in legal writing. |
| block quote legal writing: Experiential Legal Writing Diana Donahoe, 2011-08-10 Experiential Legal Writing: Analysis, Process, and Documents discusses the documents first-year law students are introduced to, including memos, briefs, and client letters, as well as documents that are used in upper-class courses, such as scholarly writing and pleadings. Based on the online legal writing materials available at TeachingLaw, this straightforward text is designed to be used either as an aid to instructors and students working in the electronic environment of TeachingLaw or on its own as a primary or supplementary textbook. Covering the entirety of the writing process, from analysis to citation form, this text Offers a clear instructional approach to legal analysis, legal documents, and the writing process, as well as to legal grammar and usage and to citation style for both ALWD and the Bluebook. Breaks down the analytical and writing processes into manageable tasks and provides students with strategies, examples, and exercises. Introduces each type of legal document with Purpose, Audience, Scope, and View bullet points, providing an at-a-glance overview. Employs maps, diagrams, text boxes, and tables to summarize material and provide visual interest. Includes multiple documents annotated with in-depth commentary to help students identify key parts, understand the arguments being made, and understand the strengths of each document. Provides abundant, thorough study aid materials Quick References and Checklists that reinforce and test students' understanding of the material Quizzes and Self-Assessments that allow students and teachers to test students' understanding of the material |
| block quote legal writing: Persuasive Legal Writing Louis J. Sirico Jr., Nancy Lusignan Schultz, 2015-01-30 Persuasive Legal Writing offers complete instruction, exercises, and examples to teach students how to frame and assert arguments. Starting with an introduction to classical rhetorical devices and the psychology of persuasion, the authors explore every aspect of persuasive writing, from structuring sentences and paragraphs to writing style, tone, storytelling, audience analysis, the ethics of argument, and citing authorities. This concise books features consistent emphasis on the three keys to persuasive writing: writing simply and clearly; arguing ethically; writing for the audience and offers information on how to use all parts of a brief to frame and assert an argument. Key New Features A new chapter on applying storytelling principles to legal argument A new chapter on using visuals in support of persuasive arguments New examples of empirical studies and analysis that support the lessons throughout the book New examples of particularly appealing use of language in Appendix A |
| block quote legal writing: How to Write Law Essays and Exams S. I. Strong, 2018 How to Write Law Essays and Exams provides law students with a practical and proven method of analysing and answering essay and exam questions. The book focuses on those questions that give students the most trouble, namely problem questions, but its techniques are equally applicable to other types of essays. In addition to providing a framework for analysing and writing law essays, the book teaches students how to identify relevant legal authorities, distinguish and harmonise conflicting legal precedents and evaluate the applicability of the law to the facts of the question at hand. The book also contains specific law-related revision techniques and general writing tips. Designed for law students of all levels, including those on A-level, university, conversion, and vocational courses, the text helps students understand their substantive courses while at the same time teaching vital writing and analytical skills. Online Resources The book is accompanied by online resources, including: a case breakdown to help students with reading cases, frequently asked questions, and some tips on citation styles and conventions. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Reasoning and Legal Writing Richard K. Neumann, Ellie Margolis, Kathryn M. Stanchi, 2021-01-31 Legal Reasoning and Legal Writingteaches students how to organize and incorporate a legal argument into strong and cogent writing for a variety of applications in legal practice. This clear and coherent text has been updated to address the new skills required for modern law practice. While the Ninth Edition still includes the fundamental tools that has made it one of the best-selling legal writing texts, it has been updated to incorporate current and more sophisticated material for students wishing to take their advocacy skills to the next level. Designed for utility in a wide range of legal writing courses, the book covers multiple types of legal writing, including office memos, appellate and motion briefs, client letters, and email correspondence, as well as all aspects of legal reasoning from rule-based analysis to strategies of persuasion. It also covers other key skills such as oral reports to supervisors, appellate and motion argument, tips about the realities of online law practice and modern changes in language and style. The Ninth Edition reflects the collective wisdom of three leaders in the legal writing discipline who together have over 90 years of experience teaching, writing and speaking about legal writing. New to the Ninth Edition: New chapters 23-33 (The Shift to Persuasion). The new chapters are thoroughly modernized and to incorporate the best ideas of the legal scholarship on persuasion in an accessible and clear fashion. The newly organized chapters reflect that legal writing courses might teach appellate briefs or motion briefs, or some combination, and make the assigning of chapters easier for all approaches. New content about theory of the case, motions, procedural posture and the client’s story. Professors and student will benefit from: Clear coverage of the nuts and bolts of writing an office memo, a motion memo, and an appellate brief organized to make assigning chapters easier for all different course approaches. The authors’ paradigm for Organizing a Proof of a Conclusion of Law, which provides the best explanation available of the reasoning underlying the proof of a conclusion of law. Immersive pedagogy where students learn both to think like lawyers and to think like writers. A thoughtful look at all aspects of legal reasoning, from rule-based analysis to the strategy of persuasion An accessible approach that focuses on the process of writing timely examples and exercises from legal practice A full complement of sample documents in the Appendices Teaching materials Include: Teacher’s Manual Additional resources included with Connected Coursebook |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing and Other Lawyering Skills Nancy L. Schultz, 2004 |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing Handbook Laurel Currie Oates, Anne Enquist, Jeremy Francis, 2021-01-31 With the authors’ effective step-by-step approach, The Legal Writing Handbook:Analysis, Research, and Writing walks students through each of the stages of the writing process from pre-writing, drafting, and editing, to the final draft. A leading text for generations of law students, the Eighth Edition gives students a head start as they move into practice. The Legal Writing Handbook offers a complete resource on legal writing. Part I provides students with an introduction to the U.S. Legal System; Part II gives an overview of legal research, with both an introduction to sources and to research strategies; Part III introduces students to predictive memos, e-memos, and client letters; Part IV covers motion briefs; Part V offers an overview of appellate briefs; Part VI introduces oral advocacy; Part VII is a guide to effective writing; Part VIII is a guide to correct writing; and Part IX focuses on the needs of ESL writers. With a new streamlined organization and completely updated content, this is the only book on legal writing students will ever need. New to the Eighth Edition: Streamlined organization with chapters focused on key topics New appendix with easy reference to all the Quick Tips to improve legal writing Updated and added discussion throughout the book on the role of bias in legal language and argumentation A new chapter introducing rhetoric and bias Professors and student will benefit from: Given the breadth of coverage, the book can be easily adapted for two-, three-, or four-semester programs. Multiple examples and sample documents—this text demystifies legal writing. Helpful overview of the American legal system Step-by-step instruction on how to write formal memos, e-memos, and opinion letters Step-by-step instruction on how to write motion and appellate briefs In-depth instruction on how to write and edit effectively and correctly Resources for ESL law students With online Connected Coursebook access, students receive additional exercises with sample answers and other helpful resources. |
| block quote legal writing: Basic Legal Writing Pamela R. Tepper, 1992 |
| block quote legal writing: Judicial Writing Chinua Asuzu, 2016-05-04 To validate their institutional continuance as a branch of government, writes Chinua Asuzu, judges must make sound decisions. They must also articulate and express those decisions efficiently and comprehensibly. This book shows how. This book will help judges, arbitrators, and other decision-writers master the art and science of judicial writing. A most welcome guide, Judicial Writing: A Benchmark for the Benchsets a high, yet attainable, standard of excellence for writing judicial decisions. It will no doubt become the reference point for judging judges and their judgments. Chinua Asuzu is that uncommon lawyer who wrote The Uncommon Law of Learned Writing. His other works includeAnatomy of a Brief andFair Hearing in Nigeria. A versatile arbitrator, Asuzu served as an administrative-law judge at the Tax Appeal Tribunal in Nigeria from 2010 to 2016.He is now the Senior Partner of Assizes Lawfirm, a team of tax lawyers. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals Deborah E. Bouchoux, 2019-09-13 Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals emphasizes the skills and issues that paralegals encounter in practice. Thoroughly up-to-date, the Ninth Edition continues to combine clear text with visual aids, writing samples, tips, and pointers. Designed specifically for paralegal students, Deborah Bouchoux’s classroom-tested approach teaches cutting-edge research skills, writing style, and proper citation form—to equip students with an essential skill set and well-founded confidence. The author’s logical and comprehensive approach enhances students’ understanding. Part I covers Primary Authorities, Part II discusses Secondary Authorities, and Part III covers the basics of Legal Writing. In addition, Bouchoux integrates writing strategies into each research chapter to demonstrate the link between the two processes. Thorough coverage of electronic research includes chapters on both internet research and fee-based services. Bouchoux thoroughly explains proper citation form and the process of updating/validating legal authorities. The Legal Writing section includes samples of legal writing, such as letters, a court brief, and a legal memorandum. New to the Ninth Edition: New “Sidebar” feature in all research chapters that provides quick tips showing how the material in that chapter applies to computer-assisted legal research systems, such as Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law. Discussion of GovInfo, which provides free public access to official and authenticated publications from all three branches of the federal government. Coverage of new tools used for cite-checking, including EVA and Bestlaw. Discussion of Westlaw Edge, Westlaw’s new research platform. Extensive new coverage of the increasing use of artificial intelligence in legal research and writing. Discussion of new sources that provide free public access to the law, including Harvard’s Caselaw Access Project and CourtListener. New sections on preparing email letters and email memoranda, including assignments. All new Research Questions and Internet Legal Research Assignments have been included for each chapter. Professors and students will benefit from: Pedagogy designed to enhance the accessibility of the material, including helpful charts and diagrams that synthesize complex topics, Practice Tips offering realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success, and Ethics Alerts in every chapter. Targeted and ample exercises help students learn how to use a wide range of research sources. Charts and practice tips, updated for this edition, that help students apply what they have learned. Tips on how to effectively use electronic resources are included throughout the text. Conscientious revision ensures that the book has the most up-to-date material, presented in a readable and accessible format. |
| block quote legal writing: A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage Bryan A. Garner, 2001 A comprehensive guide to legal style and usage, with practical advice on how to write clear, jargon-free legal prose. Includes style tips as well as definitions. |
| block quote legal writing: The Mindful Legal Writer Heidi K. Brown, 2016-09-16 Combining two groundbreaking texts for predictive and persuasive writing in one volume, The Mindful Legal Writer: Mastering Predictive and Persuasive Writing, raises awareness of important elements in the legal writing process—such as pacing, purpose, context, analysis, logic, and clarity. Progressing from a mastery of the basics to a professional level of legal communication in client representation and advocacy, Heidi K. Brown’s classroom-tested pedagogy illustrates the pivotal role of written communication for lawyers. |
| block quote legal writing: CUSTOM PRINT EBOOK: KILLINGER CHASSON LEGAL WRITING 3E , 2018-07-19 This is a custom book curated by Professors Anna Chason, Robert Kaplan, and Laura Killinger at William & Mary Law School. |
| block quote legal writing: Legal Writing and the Lone Ranger Daniel J. Kornstein, 2020-09-30 This book will improve the writing of anyone connected to the legal profession. Whether you are a law student, a young or experienced practitioner, or even a judge, this book will help you write better. It is filled with tips and insights that work, and is written clearly and entertainingly. |
| block quote legal writing: Uncommon Law of Learned Writing 2.0 Chinua Asuzu, 2023-09-10 As lawyers, we must not, in hot pursuit of common law, outrun common sense. The dread of that eventuality prompted this book. Uncommon Law of Learned Writing 2.0 promotes common sense in legal language. Plain language, which is commonsensical, broadens access to legal documents, thus democratizing the law. If democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people, law is the language in which government interacts with the people—it’s the language of democracy. The people whose government speaks through law must understand what is said. No democratic society should brook legalese—a dense, verbose dialect known only to lawyers. What then should society do to redress the lawyer-induced obscurity? A Shakespearean character had an alarming proposal: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Apparently, that proposal was not enthusiastically endorsed, which explains why we’re still here. A milder remedy—enrolling lawyers in language classes—has been mooted, which explains why this book is in your hands. Uncommon Law of Learned Writing 2.0 motivates lawyers to prefer plain language to the legalese and verbosity that have besmirched legal writing for centuries. This book is as sweeping and authoritative a treatment of its subject as you can find anywhere. |
| block quote legal writing: The Redbook Bryan A. Garner, 2006 This book provides a comprehensive guide to the essential rules of legal writing. Unlike most style or grammar guides, it focuses on the special needs of legal writers, answering a wide spectrum of questions about grammar and style -- both rules and exceptions. It also gives detailed, authoritative advice on punctuation, capitalization, spelling, footnotes, and citations, with illustrations in legal context. Designed for law students, law professors, practicing lawyers, and judges, the work emphasizes the ways in which legal writing differs from other styles of technical writing. Its how-to sections deal with editing and proofreading, numbers and symbols, and overall document design. Features: * Cautions on use of 500 stuffy phrases and needless legalisms, along with their everyday English translations * Details rules for 800 words with required prepositions in certain contexts * Explains the correct usage of more than 1,000 words that are often troublesome to legal writers * Gives tips on preparing briefs and other court documents, opinion letters and demand letters, research memos, and contracts * Provides model documents of all types of legal documents and pleadings Reviews 200 terms of art that take on new meanings in legal contexts |
| block quote legal writing: Why Lawsuits are Good for America Carl T. Bogus, 2003-07-01 Argues that lawsuits work far better than commonly understood Judging by the frequency with which it makes an appearance in television news shows and late night stand up routines, the frivolous lawsuit has become part and parcel of our national culture. A woman sues McDonald’s because she was scalded when she spilled her coffee. Thousands file lawsuits claiming they were injured by Agent Orange, silicone breast implants, or Bendectin although scientists report these substances do not cause the diseases in question. The United States, conventional wisdom has it, is a hyperlitigious society, propelled by avaricious lawyers, harebrained judges, and runaway juries. Lawsuits waste money and time and, moreover, many are simply groundless. Carl T. Bogus is not so sure. In Why Lawsuits Are Good for America, Bogus argues that common law works far better than commonly understood. Indeed, Bogus contends that while the system can and occasionally does produce “wrong” results, it is very difficult for it to make flatly irrational decisions. Blending history, theory, empirical data, and colorful case studies, Bogus explains why the common law, rather than being outdated, may be more necessary than ever. As Bogus sees it, the common law is an essential adjunct to governmental regulation—essential, in part, because it is not as easily manipulated by big business. Meanwhile, big business has launched an all out war on the common law. “Tort reform”—measures designed to make more difficult for individuals to sue corporations—one of the ten proposals in the Republican Contract With America, and George W. Bush’s first major initiative as Governor of Texas. And much of what we have come to believe about the system comes from a coordinated propaganda effort by big business and its allies. Bogus makes a compelling case for the necessity of safeguarding the system from current assaults. Why Lawsuits Are Good for America provides broad historical overviews of the development of American common law, torts, products liability, as well as fresh and provocative arguments about the role of the system of “disciplined democracy” in the twenty-first century. |
| block quote legal writing: Expert Legal Writing Terri LeClercq, 2010-05-28 For many years, Terri LeClercq's Legal Writing column in the Texas Bar Journal helped polish the prose of lawyers and law students, judges and clerks, paralegals, writing instructors, and legal secretaries. This book collects all the advice she has given in her columns into one authoritative guide for expert legal writing. LeClercq covers everything a legal writer needs to know, from the mechanics of grammar and punctuation to the finer points of style, organization, and clarity of meaning. With her practical, readable, and often humorous advice, those who prepare legal documents can rid their prose of mind-numbing legalese and write with the clarity and precision that characterize the very best legal writing. |
| block quote legal writing: The Maroonbook University of Chicago Law Review, 2012-11-16 For more than twenty years, the editors of The University of Chicago Law Review have offered a simple, clear, and efficient system of legal citation and referencing for use by lawyers, students, and judges. The Maroonbook, as it is commonly called, provides an alternative to cumbersome and detailed methods of legal citation and produces consistent, straightforward results in books, law journals, briefs, and judicial opinions. The Maroonbook is now presented in a convenient and quality eBook format for use as a handy, searchable reference book. The digital edition is properly formatted and features an extensive, active Table of Contents, as well as the full appendices of the print edition. |
| block quote legal writing: MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing Joseph Gibaldi, Modern Language Association of America, 1998 The MLA Style Manual has been the standard guide for graduate students, teachers, and scholars in the humanities and for professional writers in many fields. The second edition contains several added sections and updated guidelines on citing electronic works -- including materials found on the World Wide Web. There is an expanded chapter on the publication process, from manuscript to published work, and advice for those seeking to publish their articles or books. A chapter by the attorney Arthur F. Abelman reviews legal issues, such as copyright law, the concept of fair use, the provisions of a typical publishing contract, defamation, and the emergence of privacy law. Other chapters discuss stylistic conventions and the preparation of manuscripts, theses, and dissertations and offer an authoritative and comprehensive presentation of MLA documentation style. |
| block quote legal writing: Alwd Citation Manual Darby Dickerson, 2010-06-01 ALWD Citation Manual: A Professional System of Citation, now in its Fourth Edition, upholds a single and consistent system of citation for all forms of legal writing. Clearly and attractively presented in an easy-to-use format, edited by Darby Dickerson, a leading authority on American legal citation, the ALWD Citation Manual is simply an outstanding teaching tool. Endorsed by the Association of Legal Writing Directors, (ALWD), a nationwide society of legal writing program directors, the ALWD Citation Manual: A Professional System of Citation, features a single, consistent, logical system of citation that can be used for any type of legal document complete coverage of the citation rules that includes: - basic citation - citation for primary and secondary sources - citation of electronic sources - how to incorporate citations into documents - how to quote material and edit quotes properly - court-specific citation formats, commonly used abbreviations, and a sample legal memorandum with proper citation in the Appendices two-color page design that flags key points and highlights examples Fast Formatsquick guides for double-checking citations and Sidebars with facts and tips for avoiding common problems diagrams and charts that illustrate citation style at a glance The Fourth Edition provides facsimiles of research sources that a first-year law student would use, annotated with the elements in each citation and a sample citation for each flexible citation options for (1) the United States as a party to a suit and (2) using contractions in abbreviations new rules addressing citation of interdisciplinary sources (e.g., plays, concerts, operas) and new technology (e.g., Twitter, e-readers, YouTube video) updated examples throughout the text expanded list of law reviews in Appendix 5 Indispensable by design, the ALWD Citation Manual: A Professional System of Citation, Fourth Edition, keeps on getting better |
| block quote legal writing: California Style Manual Bernard Ernest Witkin, 1977 |
| block quote legal writing: How to Write Law Essays & Exams S. I. Strong, 2014 This book provides law students with a practical and proven method of analyzing and answering essays and exam questions. Designed for students of all levels, including A-level, university, conversion, and vocational courses, the text teaches vital writing and analytical skills to help students in their substantive law studies. |
| block quote legal writing: The Guide to U.S. Legal Analysis and Communication Deborah B. McGregor, Cynthia M. Adams, 2015-08-01 Written primarily for the international lawyer studying law in the United States, this text introduces students to legal analysis and communications used in U.S. legal practice. The book begins with overviews of the U.S. government and court system, the U.S. common law system and the civil litigation process., laying a foundation for understanding the rest of the course. Through clear explanatory text and numerous exercises, The Guide to U.S. Legal Analysis and Communication provides instruction on the types of written and oral communications that international lawyers are most likely to engage in with U.S. lawyers. Topics covered are: drafting an objective legal analysis; writing persuasively and drafting court documents; expository writings, such as client letters, demand letters, and e-mail communications; conducting an oral argument to a court; and properly citing to legal authorities. Key New Features New chapters on persuasive writing, other elements of the office memorandum and writing a brief New chapter on conducting an oral argument Elimination of chapters on contract drafting to make room for new materials requested by adopters while keeping the length of the book manageable |
| block quote legal writing: Pretty Evil New England Sue Coletta, 2020-11-01 For four centuries, New England has been a cradle of crime and murder—from the Salem witch trials to the modern-day mafia. Nineteenth century New England was the hunting ground of five female serial killers: Jane Toppan, Lydia Sherman, Nellie Webb, Harriet E. Nason, and Sarah Jane Robinson. Female killers are often portrayed as caricatures: Black Widows, Angels of Death, or Femme Fatales. But the real stories of these women are much more complex. In Pretty Evil New England, true crime author Sue Coletta tells the story of these five women, from broken childhoods, to first brushes with death, and she examines the overwhelming urges that propelled these women to take the lives of a combined total of more than one-hundred innocent victims. The murders, investigations, trials, and ultimate verdicts will stun and surprise readers as they live vicariously through the killers and the would-be victims that lived to tell their stories. |
Quotations - Monmouth University
Use them to preserve the wording of the original author because the author is an authority, or the passage is well-phrased, vivid, or dramatic, or the passage might be misinterpreted if …
Practitioners and Law Clerks
27 Quotations of fifty words and over Rule 5.1(a) Use a block quote (indent left & right margins, single space and omit quotation marks) for quotations of 50 or more words. Block quotations …
Microsoft Word - Vol.128 Style Sheet [Clean].docx
Rule 5 S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes Block quotes for fifty or more words: —For word-counting purposes, hyphenated words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be …
Effective Use of Quotations
Generally, deciding whether to quote or paraphrase and how to go about it is highly context-specific, but here are a few basic rules to make the decision easier:
Microsoft PowerPoint - Bluebooking Primer [Read-Only]
Why does Bluebooking matter? “The central function of a legal citation is to allow the reader to efficiently locate the cited source.” Uniform citation formats make that process predictable, and …
LEGAL WRITING TIPS - University at Buffalo Law School
Use block quotations only when really necessary (for example, where the full text of a statute is essential, or where an extended passage from the transcript cannot be effectively summarized …
BLOCK QUOTATIONS - East Stroudsburg University of …
Begin your quote with an appropriate quotation signal phrase. - Your prose quote should be blocked if it is longer than four lines of your page. Standard MLA citation rules apply. Nelly …
Virginia Law Review
Block Quotations Note that the Bluebook Rule requiring block quote formatting for quotes of fifty or more words does apply to quotes that appear in footnote text. But note that it does not apply to …
The Basic Bluebook Guide
Block Quotes: As mentioned above, anything exceeding 5 words is to be put in quotes. Yet this rule has a limit of 50 words. If the quote you need to put in your paper exceeds 50 words, it is …
Using Documentary Evidence to Write Better Trial Court Briefs
Better Block Quotes If you must use a block quote: Work hard to keep it as short as possible –don’t expect the reader to do that work. Introduce the quote with a paraphrase Shorten the …
The Bluebook Style Guide
Block Quotes: Both: quotes of 50 or more words need to be indented on both sides and justified; this might not appear to be centered in-text depending on the legal document. Both: quotes …
A GUIDE TO QUOTING CORRECTLY - Regent University
BLOCK QUOTES Block quotes present a large portion of material from one source. – According to each manual, a block quote is “over four lines”(MLA, 1.3.2), “over five lines”(Turabian, 25.2), …
Vol. 123 Style Sheet.docx - Yale Law Journal
—Block quotes for fifty or more words: —For word-counting purposes, hyphenated words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considered in the word count. Added …
The (Not Too Serious) Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Guide …
The (Not Too Serious) Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Guide to Legal Writing Diana J. Simon Associate Clinical Professor of Law University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
NEW JERSEY MANUAL ON STYLE FOR JUDICIAL OPINIONS
Sep 23, 2008 · I. OPINION FORM The caption and attorney appearance sections in Supreme Court opinions should follow the “Supreme Court of New Jersey Guidelines for Writing …
Microsoft Word - Vol. 130 Style Guide.docx - Yale Law Journal
Rule 5 S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes Block quotes for fifty or more words: —For word-counting purposes, hyphenated words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be …
127 S THE YALE LAW JOURNAL VOLUME 127 STYLE
Rule 5 S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes Block quotes for fifty or more words: word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considered in the word ount. Added words in brackets should be …
J V 131 STYLE GUIDE - Yale Law Journal
S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes for Fifty or More Words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considere in the word count. Added words in brackets should be in oduce block …
HE J VOLUME 132 S G - Yale Law Journal
Nov 2, 2022 · S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes for Fifty or More Words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considere in the word count. Added words in brackets should …
Quotations - Monmouth University
Use them to preserve the wording of the original author because the author is an authority, or the passage is well-phrased, vivid, or dramatic, or the passage might be misinterpreted if …
Practitioners and Law Clerks
27 Quotations of fifty words and over Rule 5.1(a) Use a block quote (indent left & right margins, single space and omit quotation marks) for quotations of 50 or more words. Block quotations …
Microsoft Word - Vol.128 Style Sheet [Clean].docx
Rule 5 S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes Block quotes for fifty or more words: —For word-counting purposes, hyphenated words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be …
Effective Use of Quotations
Generally, deciding whether to quote or paraphrase and how to go about it is highly context-specific, but here are a few basic rules to make the decision easier:
Microsoft PowerPoint - Bluebooking Primer [Read-Only]
Why does Bluebooking matter? “The central function of a legal citation is to allow the reader to efficiently locate the cited source.” Uniform citation formats make that process predictable, and …
LEGAL WRITING TIPS - University at Buffalo Law School
Use block quotations only when really necessary (for example, where the full text of a statute is essential, or where an extended passage from the transcript cannot be effectively summarized …
BLOCK QUOTATIONS - East Stroudsburg University of …
Begin your quote with an appropriate quotation signal phrase. - Your prose quote should be blocked if it is longer than four lines of your page. Standard MLA citation rules apply. Nelly …
Virginia Law Review
Block Quotations Note that the Bluebook Rule requiring block quote formatting for quotes of fifty or more words does apply to quotes that appear in footnote text. But note that it does not apply …
The Basic Bluebook Guide
Block Quotes: As mentioned above, anything exceeding 5 words is to be put in quotes. Yet this rule has a limit of 50 words. If the quote you need to put in your paper exceeds 50 words, it is …
Using Documentary Evidence to Write Better Trial Court Briefs
Better Block Quotes If you must use a block quote: Work hard to keep it as short as possible –don’t expect the reader to do that work. Introduce the quote with a paraphrase Shorten the …
The Bluebook Style Guide
Block Quotes: Both: quotes of 50 or more words need to be indented on both sides and justified; this might not appear to be centered in-text depending on the legal document. Both: quotes …
A GUIDE TO QUOTING CORRECTLY - Regent University
BLOCK QUOTES Block quotes present a large portion of material from one source. – According to each manual, a block quote is “over four lines”(MLA, 1.3.2), “over five lines”(Turabian, 25.2), …
Vol. 123 Style Sheet.docx - Yale Law Journal
—Block quotes for fifty or more words: —For word-counting purposes, hyphenated words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considered in the word count. Added …
The (Not Too Serious) Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Guide …
The (Not Too Serious) Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Guide to Legal Writing Diana J. Simon Associate Clinical Professor of Law University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
NEW JERSEY MANUAL ON STYLE FOR JUDICIAL OPINIONS
Sep 23, 2008 · I. OPINION FORM The caption and attorney appearance sections in Supreme Court opinions should follow the “Supreme Court of New Jersey Guidelines for Writing …
Microsoft Word - Vol. 130 Style Guide.docx - Yale Law Journal
Rule 5 S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes Block quotes for fifty or more words: —For word-counting purposes, hyphenated words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be …
127 S THE YALE LAW JOURNAL VOLUME 127 STYLE
Rule 5 S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes Block quotes for fifty or more words: word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considered in the word ount. Added words in brackets should be …
J V 131 STYLE GUIDE - Yale Law Journal
S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes for Fifty or More Words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considere in the word count. Added words in brackets should be in oduce block …
HE J VOLUME 132 S G - Yale Law Journal
Nov 2, 2022 · S.R. 5.1(a): Block Quotes for Fifty or More Words count as one word. Omitted words and ellipses should not be considere in the word count. Added words in brackets should …
