Chapter I An Introduction to Legal Writing and the Legal System
A. Writing, Legal Writing, and Legal Drafting
B. Skills Required for Drafting
C. Why Legal Writing Is the Way It Is
D. Foundations of Legal Writing
E. Sources of Law and Our System of Courts
Exercises
Chapter 2 Litigation Process and Variety of Legal Documents
A. Litigation Process
B. Variety of Initial Legal Documents
C. Responsive Pleadings: Responding to the Complaint
D. Discovery: Discovering What Happened
E. The Trial and Documents Issued by Court
Exercises
Chapter 3 Legal Briefs
A. Types of Briefs
B. The Form and Content of a Brief
C. Samples of a Brief and an Appellate Brief
D. The Style of a Brief
E. Rules for Effective Brief Writing
Exercises
Chapter4 Legal Memorandum
A. Memorandum and Legal Memorandum
B. Format of a Memo
C. Editing Checklist: Memoranda
D. Sample Memoranda
Exercises
Chapter 5 Legal Correspondence
A. Functions of Legal Correspondence
B. Effective Letter Writing
C. Guidelines for Effective Letter Writing
D. The Format of Letters
E. Examples of Legal Correspondence
Exercises
Chapter 6 Transaction Documents
A. Objectives of the Parties
B. Functions of Transaction Documents
C. Legal and Ethical Considerations
D. The Details of the Transaction
E. Practical Considerations
F. Parts of a Contract
G. Examples of Transaction Documents
Exercises
Chapter 7 Legal Research Strategies
A. Introduction
B. Types of Research Materials
C. Beginning Your Research
D. Tailoring Your Research
E. Doing Your Research
F. Three Fundamental Legal Research Strategies
Exercises
Chapter 8 Reading Legal Citations
A. What Is a Citation?
B. Typical Legal Citations Analyzed
C. Some Common Legal Abbreviations
D. The Importance of Legal Citation
E. Computer Assisted Legal Research——Westlaw
Exercises
Selected Bibliography
Answers to Exercises