Skywalker Memo, Version 1

INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL THINKING AND WRITING

Rubric for Skywalker, Version 1

Section Points Requirements

Question Presented 4 —Phrased as a question —Identifies the law to be applied —Identifies the legal problem —Relates the material facts to the legal issue

Short Answer 4 —Answers the question presented —Explains reasoning by summarizing the discussion

Statement of Facts 5 —Summarizes the relevant facts —Presents facts in chronological order —Omits unnecessary details —Tells a story —Presents assumptions, if any, as assumptions

Discussion 10 —Previews the author’s points with a roadmap paragraph —Begins each paragraph with a topic sentence —Analyzes at least two cases —Uses analogical reasoning to apply the legal rules to the client’s facts

Conclusion 2 —Sums up the discussion —Suggests next steps