Objective Analysis

Legal Analysis (1 credit) required.
Works on close reading; introduces the most common forms of reasoning; provides an overview of the process of formulating a rule from an authority, synthesizing multiple authorities, placing the rule in a rule-structure, applying that rule to a set of facts, & organizing a written discussion.

Introduction to Legal Research Part I
(1 credit awarded in Spring) required.
Introduction to the primary legal sources with hands-on practice.

Writing Component in a doctrinal course required.
Several writing assignments based on an issue covered in the doctrinal course; professor comments on papers and either discusses them in class or holds student conferences.

Persuasive Writing

Legal Writing II (3 credits) required.
This is the core course in persuasive writing. It continues the coverage of research strategy and the forms of legal reasoning, but now in the context of persuasion. The course examines organizational paradigms and the use of authorities in (1) questions governed by a factors analysis; and (2) questions raising a pure issue of law. Course requirements include completion of at least two major writing assignments and two oral arguments.

Academic

Seminar (2 credits) required.
Seminars require the production and presentation of a major paper in a particular doctrinal or practice area. Most seminars assign an academic paper but some assign a practice document.

Advanced Writing Group (1 credit) required.
(See Spring, second year)

Exam

Drafting

Advanced Drafting Course (2 credits)

Preparation of a Writing Portfolio