Writing and Analysis in the Law

, by Shapo, Helene S.

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ISBN: 9781566627801 | 156662780X
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 6/1/1999

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Supplemental Materials

Preface

Acknowledgments

vii

Introduction to the Legal System and Legal Writing

(27)

The Primary Sources of Law

(2)

Structure of the Court System in the United State

(4)

The Vertical Structure of Our Court System

(3)

The System of Courts: The Federal Courts

(1)

The Development of the Law Through the Common Law Process

(3)

Precedent and Stare Decisis

(1)

Binding and Persuasive Authority

(1)

State Courts

(1)

Federal Courts

(1)

Writing About Legal Authority

(1)

Stare Decisis and Overruling Decisions

(1)

Holding and Dicta

(7)

Exercise 1--A

(1)

Exercise 1--B

(1)

The Weight of Authority

(1)

Statutes and the Relationship Between Case Law and Statutes

(2)

Exercise 1--C

(1)

Citation

(7)

Citations to Provide Authority and Bibliography

(1)

Citations to Provide Attribution and Avoid Plagiarism

(2)

Exercise 1--D

(2)

Exercise 1--E

(2)

Analyzing Legal Authority Case Law

(27)

Introduction

(1)

Briefing a Case: Finding the Parts of a Judicial Decision

(6)

Facts

(1)

Issue(s)

(1)

Holding(s)

(1)

Reasoning

(1)

Policy

(1)

Paugh v. City of Seattle

(2)

Sample Brief of Paugh v. City of Seattle

(2)

Using the Parts of a Judicial Decision

(15)

Reasonning by Analogy

(1)

Applying Precedent

(1)

Issues

(1)

Facts

(2)

Exercise 2--A

(1)

Exercise 2--B

(1)

Exercise 2--C

(1)

Exercise 2--D

(2)

Exercise 2--E

(1)

Holding

(1)

Exercise 2--F

(2)

Reasoning

(1)

Policy

(1)

Exercise 2--G

(2)

Exercise 2--H

(2)

Synthesizing Cases

(6)

Exercise 2--I

(1)

Exercise 2--J

(1)

Exercise 2--K

(1)

Analyzing Legal Authority: Statutes

(20)

Reading the Text of the Statute

(2)

Exercise 3--A

(1)

Finding the Statutory Issues

(4)

Exercise 3--B

(1)

Exercise 3--C

(2)

Exercise 3--D

(1)

Exercise 3--E

(1)

Techniques of Statutory Interpretation

(14)

Legislative Intent

(1)

Plain Meaning

(1)

Exercise 3--F

(1)

Legislative History

(2)

Exercise 3--G

(1)

Exercise 3--H

(1)

Exercise 3--I

(1)

The Canons of Construction

(3)

State Decisis and Statutes

(1)

Exercise 3--J

(2)

Exercise 3--K

(1)

Organization of a Legal Discussion: Large--Scale Organization

(20)

Introduction

(1)

Organizing a Discussion

(20)

Overall Organization

(1)

Organization Within One Claim--Identifying the Issues

(1)

The Court's Opinion Identifies the Elements of a Rule

(2)

Exercise 4--A

(3)

Exercise 4--B

(1)

The Terms of a Statute identify the Elements

(1)

Exercise 4--C

(1)

Exercise 4--D

(1)

A Rule Evolves Over a Series of Cases

(2)

Exercise 4--E

(1)

The Rule Is Vague and You Must Extract the Factors From an Opinion or a Series of Opinions and Balance Them

(4)

Exercise 4--F

(1)

Exercise 4--G

(2)

Organization of a Legal Discussion: Small--Scale Organization

(14)

Introduction

(1)

Steps and Organization of a Legal Analysis on a Single Legal Issue Using a Single Case

(6)

Paragraph or Paragraphs on the Rule of Law

(1)

Paragraph or Paragraphs on Case law

(1)

Paragraph or Paragraphs on Application of Precedents

(1)

Paragraph or Paragraphs on Presentation and Evaluation of Counterarguments and Legal Conclusion

(2)

Exercise 5--A

101

(1)

Case Synthesis in a Legal Analysis of a Single Legal Issue

102

(7)

Exercise 5--B

106

(3)

The Thesis Paragraph

109

(8)

Exercise 6--A

114

(3)

Writing a Legal Document: The Legal Memorandum

117

(18)

Introduction

117

(3)

Purpose of a Memorandum

117

(1)

Audience

117

(1)

Writing Techniques

118

(2)

Format

120

(15)

Staement of Facts

121

(1)

Exercise 7--A

122

(2)

Question Presented

124

(4)

The Short Answer or Conclusion

128

(2)

Exercise 7--B

130

(1)

Applicable Statutes

131

(1)

Discussion

131

(1)

Conclusion

132

(1)

Checklist for Memorandum

132

(3)

The Writing Process

135

(14)

Introduction

135

(1)

Beginning Your Assignment

136

(1)

From Research to Outline

137

(6)

The First Draft: Putting It Down on Paper

143

(3)

Rewriting

146

(3)

Revising Your Organization and Analysis

146

(1)

Revising Sentences

147

(1)

Proofreading

148

(1)

Effective Paragraphs

149

(20)

Introduction

149

(1)

Topic Sentences and Paragraph Unity

149

(5)

Paragraph Transitions

154

(3)

Exercise 9--A

156

(1)

Paragraph Coherence

157

(6)

Paragraph Coherence: Organization

158

(1)

Paragraph Coherence: Sentence Transitions

159

(1)

Transition Words and Coherence

159

(1)

Other Connectors

159

(1)

Overlapping Sentences

160

(1)

Coherence and Complex Sentences

160

(1)

Coherence and the Repetition of Key Words

161

(1)

Exercise 9--B

161

(2)

Paragraph Development

163

(6)

Comparison

163

(1)

Illustration

164

(1)

Classification

165

(1)

Definition

165

(1)

Cause and Effect

166

(1)

Narration and Chronology

167

(1)

Exercise 9--C

168

(1)

Sentence Structure

169

(16)

Whenever Possible, Use Short, Concrete Subjects

171

(1)

Use Short, Active Predicates--Not Nominalizations

171

(1)

Whenever Possible, Use Active Rather Than Passive Voice

172

(1)

To Promote the Main Idea of the Sentence, Do Not Separate the Subject From the Verb With Intruding Phrases and Clauses

173

(1)

Keep Your Sentences Relatively Short (under 25 Words)

174

(1)

Maintain Parallel Sentence Structure (Parallelism)

174

(1)

Avoid Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

175

(1)

Identify and Punctuate Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Modifiers Correctly

176

(1)

Eliminate Unnecessary Words

177

(1)

Use Quotations Sparingly

178

(1)

Use the Appropriate Tense

179

(1)

Make Your Comparisons Complete and Logical

179

(1)

Check That the Words in Your Sentence Have a Rational Relationship

179

(1)

Select Concrete, Familiar, and Specific Words: Avoid Vagueness and Imprecision

180

(1)

Avoid Jargon, Informal, and Esoteric Language

180

(1)

Avoid Qualifiers and Intensifiers; Do Not Overuse Adjectives and Adverbs

181

(1)

Avoid Sexist Language

181

(4)

Exercise 10--A: Sentence Structure

182

(1)

Exercise 10--B: Sentence Structure

183

(2)

Types of Legal Arguments in Resolving Question of Law

185

(24)

Introduction

185

(1)

Authority Arguments Based on Precedent

186

(4)

Broad and Narrow Interpretation

186

(1)

Extending Precedents to Cover a Gap

187

(1)

Conflicting Lines of Authority

188

(1)

Overruling Precedent

189

(1)

Authority Arguments Based on Statutes

190

(8)

Plain Meaning Analysis

191

(1)

Syntactic Ambiguity

191

(1)

Semantic Uncertainty

192

(2)

Other Sources of Legislative Intent

194

(1)

Statutory Context

195

(1)

Legislative History

196

(1)

Predecessor and Similar Statutes

196

(1)

Regulatory Agencies

197

(1)

Legislative Activity

197

(1)

Canons of Construction

198

(1)

Policy Arguments

198

(5)

Normative Arguments

199

(1)

Economic Arguments

200

(1)

Institutional Competence Arguments

200

(1)

Judicial Administration Arguments

201

(2)

Organizing Levels of Argument in Questions of Law

203

(6)

Exercise 11--A

204

(1)

Exercise 11--B

205

(2)

Exercise 11--C

207

(2)

Research Strategies

209

(19)

Introduction

209

(1)

Practical Considerations

210

(3)

Types of Research Materials

213

(2)

Primary Materials

213

(1)

Secondary materials

214

(1)

Search Materials

214

(1)

The Weight of Authority

214

(1)

Beginning Your Research

215

(7)

Statutory Research

215

(1)

Starting With Known Relevant Citations

215

(1)

Starting With No Research Information

215

(1)

Case Law Research

216

(1)

Starting With Known Relevant Citations

216

(1)

Starting With No Research Information

217

(2)

Using Computer--Assisted Legal Research (CALR)

219

(3)

Tailoring Your Research

222

(3)

Researching Federal Law

222

(2)

Researching the Law of One State

224

(1)

Doing Your Research

225

(3)

Exercise 12--A

226

(2)

Interviewing the Client

228

(11)

Introduction

228

(3)

Goals of the Interview

231

(1)

Preparation for the Interview

232

(1)

The Interview

233

(2)

The Memo to the File

235

(4)

Exercise 13--A

238

(1)

Counseling the Client

239

(8)

Roles of the Lawyer and the Client

239

(2)

Preparation for Counseling

241

(3)

Exercise 14--A

243

(1)

Structure of the Counseling Meeting

244

(1)

Techniques of Counseling

245

(2)

Exercise 14--B

246

(1)

Letter Writing

247

(27)

Analyzing the Rhetorical Context

248

(5)

Audience

248

(1)

Purpose

249

(1)

Writing Strategies

250

(1)

Writer's Persona

250

(1)

Tone

251

(1)

Treatment of Law and Facts

252

(1)

Organizational Concerns

253

(1)

Letters

253

(21)

Opinion or Advice Letters

253

(1)

The Introductory Paragraph

254

(1)

The Facts

255

(2)

Legal Analysis

257

(1)

Recommendations

258

(1)

Closing paragraph

259

(1)

Letters to an Adversary

259

(1)

The Opening

260

(1)

Factual and Legal Summary

260

(1)

Closing

260

(2)

Letters to Third Parties

262

(2)

Transmittal Letters

264

(1)

Exercise 15--A

265

(2)

Exercise 15--B

267

(6)

Exercise 15--C

273

(1)

Writing to the Court: An Introduction to Advocacy

274

(12)

Introduction

274

(2)

The Purpose of Trial and Appellate Briefs

274

(1)

Court Rules

275

(1)

Advocacy

276

(6)

Audience

276

(1)

Persuasion

277

(1)

Ethics

277

(1)

Emotion

278

(1)

Reason

278

(2)

Choosing Precedent

280

(1)

The Theory of the Case

281

(1)

Principles of Style

282

(4)

Achieving Tone

282

(1)

Diction

282

(1)

Context

283

(1)

Sentence Structure

284

(1)

Quotations

284

(2)

The Trial Brief: Memorandum of Law in Support of or in Opposition to a Motion

286

(12)

Introduction

286

(1)

The Essentials of a Memorandum of Law

287

(2)

Audience

287

(1)

Governing Rules

288

(1)

Purpose of the Motion

288

(1)

Format of a Memorandum in Support of or in Opposition to a Motion

289

(1)

Caption and Title

290

(1)

Format of a Memorandum in Support of or in Opposition to a Motion---Continued

Introduction

290

(1)

Exercise 17--A

291

(1)

Exercise 17--B

292

(1)

Statement of Facts

292

(2)

Exercise 17--C

294

(1)

Question Presented (Statement of Issues)

294

(1)

Exercise 17--D

295

(1)

Argument

295

(1)

Exercise 17--E

296

(1)

Conclusion

297

(1)

Writing the Appellate Brief

298

(72)

Introduction

298

(6)

Selection Issues for Appeal

298

(1)

Standard of Review

299

(2)

Choosing Arguments in Support of an Issue

301

(1)

Ordering Issues

302

(2)

Format of an Appellate Brief: Introductory Information

304

(1)

Title Page

304

(1)

Table of Contents

304

(1)

Table of Authorities

304

(1)

Question (s) Presented

305

(6)

Exercise 18--A

309

(2)

The Statement of the Case

311

(14)

The Opening Paragraph or Paragraphs

312

(1)

Developing the Facts

313

(1)

Organization

313

(1)

The Narrative Approach

314

(1)

Persuasive Writing Techniques

315

(4)

The Closing Paragraph

319

(1)

Exercise 18--B

320

(5)

Summmary of the Argument

325

(5)

Exercise 18--C

327

(3)

Point Headings

330

(8)

Organizing Headings in Outline Form

331

(1)

Exercise 18--D

332

(1)

Writing Persuasive Headings

333

(4)

Exercise 18--E

337

(1)

The Argument

338

(24)

Introduction

338

(2)

Writing a Persuasive Thesis Paragraph

340

(3)

Exercise 18--F

343

(2)

Synthesizing the Law and Precedents From Your Client's Perspective

345

(1)

Applying Law to Fact

345

(3)

Exercise 18--G

348

(1)

Exercise 18--H

348

(1)

Exercise 18--I

349

(2)

Questions of Law

351

(2)

Arguing Your Facts

353

(1)

Emphasize Favorable Facts

353

(1)

Minimize Unfavorable Facts

354

(1)

Exercise 18--J

354

(2)

Rebutting Opposing Arguments and Authority

356

(5)

Exercise 18--K

361

(1)

Conclusion

362

(1)

The Appellee's Brief

362

(8)

Exercise 18--L

364

(4)

Editing Checklist

368

(2)

Oral Argument

370

(75)

Preparing the Argument

370

(1)

Selecting the Arguments

371

(1)

Introduction and Argument

372

(1)

Questions by the Court

373

(2)

Citation of Authority

375

(1)

Speaking Style

375

(1)

Prayer for Relief

376

(1)

APPENDICES

A. Grammar, Punctuation, and Quotation

377

(12)

Exercise A--1: Grammar and Punctuation

385

(2)

Exercise A--2: Grammar and Punctuation

387

(1)

Exercise A--3: Review Exercise---Coherence, Grammar, and Style

387

(2)

B. Introduction to Citation Form

389

(17)

Bluebook Exercises

403

(3)

C. Sample Office Memorandum

406

(5)

D. Sample Office Memorandum

411

(6)

E. Sample Memorandum in Support of a Motion

417

(9)

F. Sample Appellate Brief

426

(19)

Index

445

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Writing and Analysis in the Law

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Supplemental Materials