Students may take both Law 648 and 647 from the same instructor only with the instructor's permission. Discussion of interpersonal aspects of client relations and ethical problems that may arise in the context of client interviews. Students participate in simulated interviews, portraying both clients and attorneys. A paper discussing some aspect of the interviewing and counseling process is required. Enrollment is limited.
Students learn the fundamental skills necessary to draft litigation and transactional documents.
Practical application of the drafting process to the preparation of litigation documents, such as pleadings and motions, and transactional documents, such as contracts, deeds, wills, or other agreements. Topics include planning and structuring a document, legal research strategies, the role of procedural rules, plain language initiatives, and ethical principles that affect the drafting process. Focus on techniques for creating and structuring an appellate brief and developing effective arguments to support a client's position and refute an opposing party's position on appeal. Topics include developing a theory of the case, developing arguments based on precedent, persuasive approaches to statutory interpretation, and effective use of policy arguments. Sloan Consideration of the usefulness and application of classical and contemporary rhetorical theory in legal arguments.