Course Description

This course will introduce students to proper legal writing methods. The goal of legal writing is communication with the reader. During this course, students will learn legal writing techniques that will enable them to communicate effectively.

Rationale

In this course, the student will continue developing his/her legal research and writing skills. This course builds upon the legal research skills developed in PLST 201 by introducing the student to proper legal writing methods. The goal of legal writing is effective communication with the reader. During this course, the student will learn legal writing techniques that will enable he/she to communicate effectively.

Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. 1. Analyze case, statute, and constitutional provisions.
   2. Draft a memorandum of law explaining research results.
   3. Draft a letter to clients.
   4. Demonstrate legal writing skills.
   5. Demonstrate proper legal citation style.
   6. Analyze all of the preceding in light of a distinctly evangelical Christian worldview.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

Before working through the checklist outlined in the Course Overview, the student should review the Liberty University curriculum.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided promptly for each Discussion. Each thread must be 300–500 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge, and include at least 3 scholarly, academic sources. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150–250 words and include at least 2 scholarly, academic sources.

Objective Memo Assignments (4)

A principal document that is often used internally and, at times, transformed into a letter, brief, or otherwise altered for use with third parties, is the Objective Memo. You will draft 1 of these documents for a large portion of your grade in this course. There are 4 parts to this assignment.

Outline Assignment

The first step in the writing process is to create an outline of what will be covered in the memo.

Rule Explanation Assignment

The second step in the writing process is to draft the building blocks of the legal argument.

Rough Draft Assignment

For this part, you will complete a rough draft of the actual Memorandum of Law. Formatting, research, writing, etc. should be as close as possible to what you envision for the final draft.

Final Draft Assignment

Create the Final Draft of your Memorandum of Law assignment by incorporating your instructor’s feedback on the Rough Draft.

Quizzes (5)

Each quiz will cover the Learn items for the assigned module: week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit.

Quiz: The Bluebook

The student will complete a quiz covering the Bluebook. The exercise will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice, true/false, matching, or fill-in-the-blank questions, and have a 1-hour time limit.

Client Letter Assignment

The student will draft a 1-page professional letter to a client explaining the decision of the law firm.