The Legal Writing Handbook Analysis, Research, and Writing [Connected eBook with Study Center]

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With the authors’ effective step-by-step approach, The Legal Writing Handbook: Analysis, Research, and Writing walks students through each of the stages of the writing process from pre-writing, drafting, and editing, to the final draft. A leading text for generations of law students, the Ninth Edition gives students a head start as they move into practice.

The Legal Writing Handbook offers a complete resource on legal writing. Part I provides students with an introduction to the U.S. Legal System; Part II gives an overview of legal research, with both an introduction to sources and to research strategies; Part III introduces students to predictive memos, e-memos, and client letters; Part IV covers motion briefs; Part V offers an overview of appellate briefs; Part VI introduces oral advocacy; Part VII is a guide to effective writing; Part VIII is a guide to correct writing; and Part IX focuses on the needs of ESL writers.

With a streamlined organization and completely updated content, this is the only book on legal writing students will ever need. The book’s comprehensive coverage gives students four books in one: a book on objective legal writing, a book on legal research, a book on persuasive legal writing and oral advocacy, and a legal style manual.

Professors and students will benefit from:

• Broad coverage that can be adapted easily for two-, three-, or four-semester programs.
• Multiple examples and sample documents—this text demystifies legal writing.
• Helpful overview of the American legal system.
• Tremendous value to students by providing coverage of objective legal writing, legal research, persuasive legal writing and oral advocacy, and a legal style manual all in one text.
• Step-by-step instruction on how to write formal memos, e-memos, and opinion letters.
• Step-by-step instruction on how to write motion and appellate briefs.
• In-depth instruction on how to write and edit effectively and correctly.
• Practice Pointers to help students understand the intricacies of legal practice.
• Appendix with easy reference to all the Quick Tips to improve legal writing.
• Resources for ESL law students.
• Online Connected Coursebook access, offering students additional exercises with sample answers and other helpful resources.

New to the Ninth Edition:

• Updated and expanded sections on bias-free language throughout the book.
• Updates and advice about the use of Generative AI in the legal writing classroom and the practice of law.
• Effective, hands-on examples of how to create arguments that take into account rhetorical bias.
• Revised sample memos and briefs.

Summary of Contents

Contents 
Preface
Acknowledgments 

Part I: Introduction 
Chapter 1: Making the Transition
Chapter 2: The United States Legal System 
Chapter 3: Mandatory vs. Persuasive Authority 
Chapter 4: Reading Statutes 
Chapter 5: Reading Cases 

Part II: Legal Research 
Chapter 6: Primary Authority
Chapter 7: Secondary Authority
Chapter 8: Finding Tools 
Chapter 9: Citators 
Chapter 10: Developing Effective Research Strategies 

Part III: Formal Memos, E- Memos, and Advice Letters 
Chapter 11: Drafting Memos 
Chapter 12: Getting the Assignment 
Chapter 13: Drafting the Heading and Statement of Facts 
Chapter 14: Drafting the Issue Statement and Brief Answer 
Chapter 15: Drafting the Discussion Section 
Chapter 16: Drafting the Formal Conclusion 
Chapter 17: Revising, Editing, and Proofreading the Memo
Chapter 18: Drafting Memos Requiring Other Types of Analysis 
Chapter 19: E- Memos 
Chapter 20: Drafting Advice Letters 

Part IV: Motion Briefs
Chapter 21: Introduction to Rhetoric and Bias 
Chapter 22: Motion Briefs 
Chapter 23: Deciding on a Theory of the Case 
Chapter 24: Drafting the Caption and the Introduction
Chapter 25: Drafting the Statement of Facts 
Chapter 26: Ordering the Issues and Arguments 
Chapter 27: Drafting the Issue Statements or Questions Presented 
Chapter 28: Drafting the Headings
Chapter 29: Drafting the Arguments 
Chapter 30: Drafting the Prayer for Relief and Signing the Brief
Chapter 31: Sample Briefs 

Part V: Appellate Briefs 
Chapter 32: Practicing Before an Appellate Court 
Chapter 33: Drafting an Appellate Brief: Audience, Purpose,
and Conventions 
Chapter 34: Getting the Case: United States v. Josephy
Chapter 35: Preparing to Write the Brief 
Chapter 36: Planning the Brief 
Chapter 37: Beginning the Appellate Brief: The Cover, Tables,
and Jurisdictional Statement 
Chapter 38: Drafting the Statement of Issues Presented for Review
Chapter 39: Drafting the Statement of the Case and Statement
of Facts 
Chapter 40: Drafting the Summary of the Argument 
Chapter 41: Drafting the Argumentative Headings 
Chapter 42: Drafting the Arguments 
Chapter 43: Completing the Brief
Chapter 44: Sample Briefs 

Part VI: Oral Advocacy 
Chapter 45: Preparing and Presenting an Effective Oral Argument 

Part VII: A Guide to Effective Writing 
Chapter 46: Effective Writing – The Whole Document
Chapter 47: Connections Between Paragraphs 
Chapter 48: Effective Paragraphs
Chapter 49: Connections Between Sentences
Chapter 50: Effective Sentences 
Chapter 51: Effective Words 
Chapter 52: Bias- Free Language 
Chapter 53: Eloquence 

Part VIII: A Guide to Correct Writing
Chapter 54: Grammar 
Chapter 55: Punctuation
Chapter 56: Mechanics 

Part IX: A Guide to Legal Writing for English- as- a- Second-
Language Writers 
Chapter 57: Legal Writing for English- as- a- Second- Language Writers

Appendix: Quick Tips About Writing
Glossary of Usage 
Glossary of Terms 
Index