Legal research and writing quiz
MOLLYMOONNY
Putman4ePPT_ch15.pptxTHE WRITING PROCESS FOR EFFECTIVE LEGAL WRITING
Chapter 15
1
Importance of Writing Skills
Why Writing Skills Are Important
Greater productivity
Better quality of product
Clear communication
Goal of Legal Writing
Primary Goal of Legal Writing
Clearly, concisely, and completely convey legal information that:
Fully addresses the topic in as few words as possible
Allows the reader to gain a clear understanding of the information in as little time as possible
Legal Writing Process
Legal Writing Process
Systematic approach to legal writing
Highly organized and structured
A process saves time
Helps you capture ideas as they come to you
Helps overcome difficult areas
You may adapt it to fit your needs, but you should always have a process
Legal Writing Process: Prewriting
Prewriting Stage: assignment is organized, researched and analyzed
Assignment: Questions to Consider
Is the assignment clearly understood?
What type of legal writing (document) is required?
Who is the audience?
Constraints
Time
Length
Format/Organization
Organization: use an outline
Legal Writing Process: Outlines
Outlines
Skeletal structure and framework for legal writing
Creation
Use the format that works for you
Use indentations to separate topics from subtopics
Alter your outline based upon the type of writing
Be flexible, and don’t be afraid to reorganize it
When in doubt, follow IRAC
Legal Writing Process: Writing
Writing Stage: the actual draft
Prepare the writing location
Write during the time of day when you do your best work
Limit interruptions
Begin writing; do not procrastinate
Begin with a part you feel most confident about
Do not try to make the first draft the final draft
Do not begin to write until you are prepared
If you become stuck, move to another part of the assignment
Establish a timetable
Legal Writing Process: Postwriting
Postwriting Stage
Revising
Is the writing well organized?
Is it written so that the audience will understand?
Is the writing clear, concise, and complete?
Are legal authorities correctly cited?
Editing
Focuses on technical writing issues: punctuation, spelling, grammar, phrasing, typographical errors, and citation errors
General Research Suggestions
Legal Research and the Prewriting Stage
Prepare an expanded outline when researching
Identify the issue first
Research issues one at a time
Become familiar with the area of law
Locate the enacted law that governs the question
Locate the case law that may apply
Make sure that the research is current
If you reach a dead end, reanalyze the issue
