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Advanced Legal Writing: Criminal Topics
Prof. Ann McGonigle Santos,
3 credits day; 3 credits evening. Students will develop their research and writing skills by
researching and writing 2-3 shorter memoranda which are related to a single criminal case. The
course will address substantive and procedural issues related to criminal matters, such as
suppression of statements, admissibility of evidence, and other constitutional issues. Students
will be able to choose whether they represent the Defendant or State in preparing their
memoranda.
In this course, students will develop their research and writing skills by writing 3-4 shorter
memoranda which are related to a single criminal case. The course will address substantive and
procedural issues relating to criminal matters, such as suppression of statements, admissibility of
physical evidence, and other constitutional issues. Specifically, students will be responsible for
reviewing transcripts, police reports, witness interviews and other miscellaneous reports to assist
them in preparing their memoranda. STANDARDS FOR ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING
COURSES The faculty has voted to encourage all students to take an advanced legal writing
course during their upper-class years at the Law School. Advanced legal writing courses are
courses that meet the standards set forth below. Ordinarily, an advanced legal writing course will
satisfy the Upper Level Skills Requirement. See Law Suffolk University Law School website,
www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/jd/skills/cfm. If so designated, it may also be used to meet the
Upper Level Legal Writing Requirement. See Law School Academic Rules and Regulations 2H.
1. Advanced legal writing courses include a significant writing component. This will include at
least three practice-oriented writing assignments--such as a legal memo or brief, writing
exercises, a draft of a transactional document, or an opinion letter based on an analysis of
appropriate legal materials such as cases and statutes. 2. The three writing assignments will total
at least fifteen pages of written work or twenty pages if the course is designated as one that can
be used to meet the Upper Level Legal Writing Requirement. The written work shall be
completed independently by each student in the course. 3. Students will receive extensive written
feedback, on each major writing assignment, covering the substance, analysis, and writing issues
reflected in the student‘s work. 4. Students will receive the opportunity to re-write one of the
assignments, which may increase their final grade for the entire assignment. 5. The professor will
have an individual writing conference with each student on at least one of the three writing
assignments. 6. The professor will discuss a sample memorandum for at least one of the
assignments, after the student papers have been handed in. 7. The grades for the writing
assignments shall constitute at least fifty percent of the course grade. 8. The syllabus for the
course shall include the three practice--oriented writing assignments and the approximate due
dates for each. 9. The faculty member is encouraged to discuss legal writing skills and
techniques with the students throughout the course. 10. Courses that provide substantially
equivalent practice oriented writing experiences may be certified by the Legal Writing
Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee as Advanced Legal Writing Courses.
Enrollment is limited: 15
Elective Course
Meets Civil Litigation Concentration Requirements
May Fulfill Legal Writing Requirement