Week 1 August 25 & 28 Intro: what lawyers do Pedagogical goals Intro to Ethos Intro to research Hierarchy of Authority Textbook: Introduction Ch. 1-3 and substitute textbook word “objective” with “predictive” Web board: Suzanne Rowe article …Putting Law School Into Practice Read class syllabus, including class policies. This will give you a sense of the course. Lexis Training: Tuesday Aug 25th 12:30-1:20 Room 106 For Friday: Getting Started on Westlaw part of the West e-learning center -- Do exercises 4-9 of fundamentals ? Welcome to law school; legal research online trainings: Week 2 Sept 1 & 4 Research & process Rule-based Analysis Statutory analysis 1st sample Memo distributed (download from course web board—we will discuss in class) Textbook Ch. 4-6 (heavier reading – suggest doing it prior to Tuesday and then as go through writing process) Web board: 1st Memo docs Westlaw Training: Tuesday September 1st 12:30-1:20 Room 106 Research for first writing assignment Statutes section of West e-learning center. Do at least exercises 3, 4, 9 Research assistance (TAs can help with assignments) Week 3 Sept 8 & 11 Hierarchy of Authority revisited Assessing research results Case synthesis. analysis, continued. Memo writing: starting with the Facts Textbook Ch. 7 all parts (key chapter) Chapter 11 Web board: Review sample memo Research & draft first writing assignment I/BA/Facts & Case Synthesis Week 4 Sept 15 & 18 Principles of reader-centered communication: “context before detail.” Conventions in communicating the analysis BLUF Cognitive psychology and Rule Explanation Application Textbook: Chapter Ch. 8 & 12 Work on Memo Due: 1st Memo Sunday. Sept 20 at 10 pm upload to Filestore You may show discussion section drafts to TAs Week 5 Sept 22 & 25 Conferences Writing process Revising Work on rewrites. You may show drafts to TAs
Week 6 Sept 29 & Oct 2 Ethos & the role of citation. Graded memo problem distributed (course web board) Handouts Web board: Graded Memo docs Work on rewrites due one week from date of your conference Rewriting Memos (TAs can touch the paper) Week 7 Oct 6 & 9 Common law synthesis Factors vs. element tests Research strategies Textbook: Chapter 4 (yes, again) McGaugh (ICW) Ch. 1-2 Work on rewrites. McGaugh, ICW Exercises 1 & 2 Due to TAs Fri. Oct. 9th 3 pm Rewriting (TAs can touch the paper) Week 8 Oct 13 & 16 Research final memo problem Case section of West e-learning center: Do exercises 2-5 Research assistance Week 9 Oct 20 & 23 Lightning rounds Deepening the analysis Textbook Ch. 7-8 (again)(key chapters) McGaugh (ICW) Ch. 3-5 ICW Exercises 3, 4, 5 Due to TAs Fri. Oct. 23rd 3 pm Drafts due of graded memo (Sun. Oct 25th 6 pm upload to Filestore) Week 10 Oct 27 & 30 Headings & Umbrellas again Facts – the traditional view Policy Arguments Conferences 1 *All are mp3 recorded for you Textbook Ch. 12 (again) Ch. 10 Policy Work on Memo Week 11 Nov 3 & 6 No class Conferences Round 1 Work on Memo Citation & Memo help Week 12 Nov 10 & 13 Conferences Round 2 *All are mp3 recorded for you Rewriting and revising a/k/a “so now what do we do for the next draft?” Work on Memo Memo help Week 13 Nov 17 & 20 Conferences Round 2 Wrap-up Revising/polishing process Last questions answered Celebrate “Legal Writing Day” on Nov. 21 (yes, it is a real day) Work on Memo Graded memo due Sunday Nov. 22nd 6 pm Filestore Maintaining perspective & Memo help Week 14 Nov 24 Course evaluations Orientation for Career Services Course Information