Revised 8/2023
LGL 126 - Legal Writing (3 CR.)
Course Description
Studies proper preparation of various legal documents, including legal memoranda, letters, and pleadings. Involves practical applications. May include case and appellate briefs. Lecture 3 hours per week.
General Course Purpose
This course is designed to acquaint the student with basic forms of informative and persuasive legal writing, including casebriefs, memos, pleadings, motions, and briefs in support of motions or appeals.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Prerequisites: LGL 110, LGL 125, and successful completion of ENG 111 or the permission of division.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- understand the difference between informative and persuasive legal writing
- recognize various types of legal documents and understand their purposes
- draft legal casebriefs, pleadings, office memoranda and briefs for use in trial and appellate courts
- understand and use correct legal citation form
- understand how precedent is used to support written arguments
- combine legal research and legal writing skills to produce a simple research memo or brief
Major Topics to Be Included
- types of legal writing
- functions of legal documents
- principles of clear legal writing
- citation form
- briefing a case
- informative office memos
- persuasive writing: briefs in support of motions, trial and appellate briefs
- pleadings and interrogatories
- contracts and settlement agreements
Optional Topics
Students may be asked to draft other types of legal documents, such as wills, deeds, opinion letters, corporate bylaws, or proposed jury instructions.