A practical guide to legal writing and legal method / John C. Dernbach [and others].
2010
KF250 .D47 2010 (Map It)
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Details
Title
A practical guide to legal writing and legal method / John C. Dernbach [and others].
Published
New York : Aspen Publishers, [2010]
Copyright
©2010
Call Number
KF250 .D47 2010
Edition
Fourth edition.
Cover Title
Practical guide to legal writing & legal method
ISBN
9780735591899
073559189X
073559189X
Description
xxiii, 493 pages ; 26 cm
System Control No.
(OCoLC)611553462
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Record Appears in
Portion of Title
Legal writing & legal method
Added Author
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
ix
Introduction
xxi
pt. A
Introduction to Law
1.
Rules and Policies
3
Legal Rules
3
Law and Policy
4
Exercise 1-A
8
Exercise 1-B
8
2.
Sources of Law
11
The Hierarchy of Laws
11
The Hierarchy of Jurisdictions
13
The Hierarchy and Jurisdiction of Courts
13
Source Material for Researching the Law
16
Primary Authority
17
Secondary Authority
18
Exercise 2-A
20
Exercise 2-B
21
3.
Case Analysis and Case Briefs
23
1.
Read the opinion carefully
26
2.
Identify the holding
26
3.
Identify the issue
28
4.
Identify the rule
30
5.
Identify the facts
32
6.
Identify the disposition of the case
35
7.
Identify the reasons and policies
35
8.
Check for congruency
37
9.
In multiple-issue cases, analyze each issue separately
37
Exercise 3-A
40
Exercise 3-B
40
Exercise 3-C
41
4.
Precedent and Stare Decisis
43
Exercise 4-A
49
Exercise 4-B
49
Exercise 4-C
51
Exercise 4-D
52
pt. B
Basic Concepts of Legal Method
5.
Understanding Legal Rules
57
How Rules Are Constructed
57
Elements of a Rule
58
The Result and Its Relationship to the Elements
59
Exceptions in a Rule
59
Sub-Elements
60
Developing a Rule from Multiple Sources: Synthesis
61
Exercise 5-A
69
Exercise 5-B
69
Exercise 5-C
70
Exercise 5-D
70
6.
Identifying and Selecting Issues for Analysis
73
1.
Focus only on questions within the scope of the problem
76
2.
Identify all relevant questions
77
3.
Exclude "givens" from detailed discussion
86
4.
Separate issues and sub-issues
87
Exercise 6-A
89
Exercise 6-B
91
7.
Common Law Analysis
95
1.
Determine how the facts of the decided cases support your client's position
101
2.
Determine how the facts of the decided cases support your opponent's position
102
3.
Determine how the reasons and policies of the decided cases support your client's position
102
4.
Determine how the reasons and policies of the decided cases support your opponent's position
103
5.
Evaluate the strength of your client's case
105
Exercise 7-A
106
Exercise 7-B
106
Exercise 7-C
107
8.
Statutory Analysis
111
1.
Determine how the language of the statute, and the facts of any cases interpreting the statute, support your client's position
116
2.
Determine how the language of the statute, and the facts of any cases interpreting the statute, support your opponent's position
117
3.
Determine how the policies of the statute, and the policies of any cases interpreting the statute, support your client's position
117
4.
Determine how the policies of the statute, and the policies of any cases interpreting the statute, support your opponent's position
119
5.
Evaluate the strength of your client's position
120
Exercise 8-A
122
Exercise 8-B
122
Exercise 8-C
122
Exercise 8-D
123
Exercise 8-E
125
9.
Reaching a Conclusion
129
1.
A position is stronger to the extent that it involves little or no extension of existing law
130
2.
A position is stronger to the extent that it furthers the policies or purposes of the law
133
3.
When the law does not require a particular result, a position is stronger to the extent that it involves a fair or just outcome for the parties
135
Exercise 9-A
137
Exercise 9-B
137
pt. C
Basic Concepts of Legal Writing
10.
Organization
141
1.
Address "givens" at the outset of your analysis
142
2.
Discuss each issue separately
145
3.
Discuss each sub-issue separately
148
4.
For each issue or sub-issue, describe the applicable law before applying it to the factual situation
151
5.
State the reasons supporting your conclusion on an issue or sub-issue before discussing counterarguments
153
6.
When there is more than one issue, discuss the issues in a logical order
156
Exercise 10-A
159
Exercise 10-B
161
Exercise 10-C
163
11.
Describing the Law
167
1.
Be accurate
167
2.
Describe only the relevant law
170
3.
Describe the law in enough detail to enable your reader to understand the discussion
172
4.
Summarize the law whenever appropriate
173
5.
Synthesize the law whenever necessary
176
Exercise 11-A
183
Exercise 11-B
183
Exercise 11-C
183
12.
Explaining the Analysis
185
1.
Be precise
185
2.
Show every step in your analysis
187
3.
Describe every reasonable basis for your conclusion
189
4.
Explain, the context
192
Exercise 12-A
195
Exercise 12-B
195
Exercise 12-C
195
13.
Signposting
197
1.
Use thesis statements to set out your conclusion for each issue and sub-issue
198
2.
Use paragraphs to divide the discussion into manageable parts
198
3.
Use a topic sentence to define the purpose of a paragraph
202
4.
Use transitions to show the relationship between ideas
203
Exercise 13-A
207
Exercise 13-B
208
14.
Drafting the Discussion
211
Purpose
211
Process
211
Audience
214
1.
For each issue, state your conclusion and set up your discussion of the issue in an introduction
215
2.
For each sub-issue, state your conclusion in terms of the rule
217
3.
Describe the law relevant to your conclusion for each sub-issue
218
4.
Explain why the law supports your conclusion for each sub-issue
220
5.
Describe any reasonable counterargument for each sub-issue and state why it is unpersuasive
221
6.
Describe how the law supports the counterargument for each sub-issue
223
7.
Explain why the counterargument does not change your conclusion for each sub-issue
225
8.
Edit the discussion to include signposts
227
Exercise 14-A
235
Exercise 14-B
239
Exercise 14-C
239
15.
Revising and Editing
241
1.
Be direct and precise
242
2.
Blend precision with simplicity
243
3.
Use verbs whenever possible to make your writing forceful
244
4.
Be concise
246
5.
Eliminate unnecessary information and repetition
250
6.
Edit intrusive or misplaced words and phrases
251
7.
User correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling
252
Exercise 15-A
254
Exercise 15-B
255
pt. D
The Office Memorandum and the Opinion Letter
16.
Elements of an Office Memorandum
259
1.
Heading
260
2.
Questions Presented
260
3.
Brief Answer(s) (optional)
261
4.
Statement of Facts
262
5.
Discussion
262
6.
Conclusion
262
17.
The Discussion
265
1.
State your conclusion on each issue or sub-issue objectively and candidly
265
2.
Describe the law objectively
267
3.
Explain the analysis objectively
268
Exercise 17-A
271
Exercise 17-B
271
18.
Statement of Facts for a Memorandum
273
1.
Identify the legally significant facts
275
2.
Identify key background facts
277
3.
Organize the facts intelligibly
277
4.
Describe the facts accurately and objectively
278
Exercise 18-A
280
Exercise 18-B
281
19.
Questions Presented
283
1.
Be understandable
284
2.
Be objective
285
Exercise 19-A
288
Exercise 19-B
291
20.
Opinion Letters
293
1.
Begin by addressing your client's question or concern
294
2.
Summarize the facts upon which your opinion is based
296
3.
Explain the law and its application
298
4.
Be objective
300
5.
Adopt a style and tone appropriate for your reader
301
6.
Special considerations for e-mail correspondence
302
Exercise 20-A
306
Exercise 20-B
306
Exercise 20-C
306
Exercise 20-D
306
pt. E
Briefs
21.
Elements of a Brief
309
1.
Caption or Title Page
312
2.
Table of Contents
312
3.
Table of Authorities Cited
313
4.
Opinions Below
313
5.
Jurisdiction
314
6.
Constitutional Provisions, Statutes, Regulations, and Rules Involved
314
7.
Standard of Review
315
8.
Introduction
315
9.
Questions Presented
316
10.
Statement of Facts
317
11.
Summary of Argument
317
12.
Argument
317
13.
Conclusion
318
14.
Appendices
319
22.
Structure of an Argument
321
1.
Present your strongest issues, sub-issues, and arguments first
322
2.
When issues are of equal strength, present the most significant issues first
324
3.
Present your client's position on each issue or sub-issue before answering counterarguments
326
Exercise 22-A
330
Exercise 22-B
331
Exercise 22-C
333
23.
Persuasive Writing
341
1.
Be professional and honest
341
2.
Fully argue your client's position
347
3.
Present arguments from your client's point of view
351
4.
Craft sentences and choose words to persuade
355
Exercise 23-A
360
Exercise 23-B
360
Exercise 23-C
360
24.
Point Headings
361
1.
State your legal conclusions and the basic reasons for these conclusions
362
2.
Structure point headings to be both specific and readable
364
3.
Place headings at logical points in your brief
365
Exercise 24-A
369
Exercise 24-B
370
25.
Statement of Facts for a Brief
373
1.
Describe the facts from your client's point of view
378
2.
Vividly describe favorable emotional facts and neutralize your opponent's emotional facts
378
3.
Organize your statement to emphasize favorable facts and de-emphasize unfavorable facts
379
Exercise 25-A
384
Exercise 25-B
386
26.
Briefs to a Trial Court
389
1.
Focus more on the applicability of legal rules than on policy
395
2.
Emphasize that fairness requires a decision in your client's favor
397
3.
Be brief
399
4.
Write for the court
402
Exercise 26-A
405
Exercise 26-B
405
Exercise 26-C
405
27.
Briefs to an Appellate Court
407
1.
Focus on the claimed errors of the lower court
408
2.
Base your argument on the appropriate standard of review
410
3.
Emphasize that a decision in your client's favor would further the policies underlying the law
412
4.
Explain how a decision in your client's favor would foster harmony or consistency in the law
414
Exercise 27-A
416
Exercise 27-B
416
Appendices
Appendix A
Memorandum Concerning Tyler's Possible Fraud Claim
419
Appendix B
Opinion Letter to Tyler
429
Appendix C
Defendant's Brief to the Trial Court
433
Appendix D
Plaintiff's Brief to the Trial Court
439
Appendix E
Trial Court's Decision
445
Appendix F
Appellant's Brief
451
Appendix G
Appellee's Brief
465
Appendix H
Selected Books on Style and Grammar
479
Bibliography Sources of Law
481
Index
489