LAW COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

LAW-2265 Advanced Legal Writing: Criminal Topics

Ms. Ann McGonigle Santos,

3 credits day; 3 credits evening.

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,

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.

Faculty comments

: 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