LAW COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

and basic grammar. I also frequently meet with students to review and critique drafts of their

briefs.

Professor Kaplan: This is a three credit course concentrating on legal analysis, writing, and

research. The students research and write the government’s reply brief to a defendant’s appellate

brief, on a criminal matter. The course is taught via lectures, individual student conferences,

extensive written feedback on each assignment, and through in-class exercises. Students write

one six page memorandum based on cases they are given. The next assignment is to write the

Argument Section of the government’s reply brief. The Argument Section is the subject of a

conference between the professor and each student. The final assignment is to write the full reply

brief. Each of these writing assignments is graded. Class participation is graded at 10%.

Professor Ramy: In this section of Advanced Legal Writing, students will be graded based on 3

major writing assignments – a closed memo (15%) and two drafts of an appellate brief (25% and

50% respectively) – and on class participation (10%). Students must complete all writing

assignments to receive credit for the course. The final draft of the appellate brief may be used to

satisfy the legal writing requirement.

Professor Vinson: This upper-level elective offers students the opportunity to further develop

their legal analysis and writing skills through practice-oriented writing assignments.

Assignments include a legal memorandum and an appellate brief, which may be used to satisfy

the writing requirement, as well as provide students with writing samples. These numerous

writing assignments provide students with extensive individual feedback on drafts and revisions.

Individual conferences supplement the class. Legal research is also reviewed. Class is

interactive, involving writing and editing exercises, peer review, group work, and guest lectures.

Students are expected to participate in class. Through hands on learning students build

confidence in their analytical skills and their ability to communicate their analysis in writing.

Enrollment is limited: 15

Elective Course

Meets Skills Menu Requirement

Meets Civil Litigation Concentration Requirements

May Fulfill Legal Writing Requirement

Final Paper Required

<<Course Updated: July 01, 2016>>