Dear Students,

Hello and welcome to Legal Writing I. I hope that you all have had a wonderful summer. 

Please see below for important information regarding your required textbooks as well as the assignment that must be completed before your first class. 

Required Textbooks: 

Diana R. Donahoe, TeachingLaw.com: Legal Research & Writing. This is an interactive online course book.  You must purchase your textbook here: https://teachinglaw.com/.

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (20th or 21st Ed.).  I recommend that you buy the hardcopy for class. 

First Assignment:

Once you have purchased the license for TeachingLaw.com, you will be able to access all the below readings. Simply click on the hyperlinks below and read the pages assigned. 

TEACHINGLAW.COM READINGS:

Introduction to TeachingLaw.com (a brief overview of your online text)

In Research Sources:

Introduction to Legal Research: Read the following pages in this section by clicking on the links to the next pages located on the bottom right side of the screen, including:

• The American Legal System (including: Civics, Federalism, and Interaction; Stare Decisis; Primary Law v. Secondary Sources)
• Overview of Primary Law
• Overview of Secondary Sources
• Citing to Research Sources
   

Primary Law: Federal: Read only the following pages of this section:

• Primary Law – Federal Congress and Federal Statutes
• Primary Law – Federal Courts and Cases

Primary Law: State: Read only the following pages of this section:

• Primary Law – State Legislatures and State Statutes
• Primary Law – State Courts and Cases

Briefing Cases: Read all the pages in this section by clicking on the links to the next pages located on the bottom right side of the screen, including:

• Briefing Cases as a Student for Class
• Briefing Cases as a Lawyer for Research

In Legal Writing: 

Common Law Analysis: Read only the following pages of this section:

• Introduction to Common Law
• Case Precedent

In Writing Process: 

Introduction to the Writing Process

Overview of the Writing Process 

In Legal Documents:

Memorandum of Law (Memos): For now, you need only read this page
(we will read the rest of this section for a later class).

In Legal Citation: 

Bluebook: Purpose, Design, and Layout

REQUIRED READINGS POSTED ON BLACKBOARD:

The Writing Center at Georgetown University Law Center, Ten Tips for Transitioning to Legal Writing, (2017), (also available at: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Ten-Tips-for-Transitioning-to-Legal-Writing-Final.pdf)

MEMO I MATERIALS

Memo I Materials - Before classes begin, I will email you materials related to Memo I. They will also be posted on Blackboard. Read the provided materials and assignment instructions before your first class.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. I look forward to working with and supporting you as you develop your legal research, analysis, and writing skills!  

Best Wishes,

Prof. Kappus