Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research, & Drafting

Overview of the Program

To supplement its core writing curriculum, Mercer offers the first and only Certificate Program in Advanced Legal Writing, Research, and Drafting in the nation. Students enrolled in the Program can earn the Certificate while they complete the requirements for the regular J.D. program and can graduate with both credentials on their resume.

In addition to the required courses, students enrolled in the Certificate Program complete an advanced research course; an advanced drafting course; three semesters of Advanced Writing Group; four drafting projects; a grammar and style competency examination; preparation of a Writing Portfolio.

4th semester:	Advanced Legal Research (2 credits) Advanced Writing Group (1 credit)
5th semester:	Advanced Writing Group (1 credit) Begin work on drafting projects
6th semester:	An advanced drafting course (2 credits) Advanced Writing Group (1 credit) Grammar & style examination Completion of drafting projects

Advanced Writing Group
Each section of this course meets one hour a week and is limited to six students. It is based primarily on Peter Elbow's concept of writing groups, in which writers receive weekly feedback from other writers. Most weeks the group responds to a piece of writing, sometimes a piece written by a group member and sometimes a piece written by a lawyer, a judge, or another author. The group reads examples of good writing; reads and edits examples of weak writing; works on selected topics of grammar and style; and studies advanced writing techniques.

Grammar and Style Competency Exam
In the sixth semester, Certificate students take a grammar and style competency examination. Students who do not pass can re-take the examination.

Writing Portfolio
Students compile samples of their writing into a bound writing portfolio. These impressive portfolios demonstrate to employers and others the breadth and depth of the students' writing experiences.