Legal Analysis and Writing

by Myers, Kathryn E.

• ISBN13: 9780132818360
• ISBN10: 0132818361
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-08-12
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

LEGAL ANALYSIS AND WRITING is today’s most complete and practical guide to modern legal writing. Students are thoroughly introduced to each form of legal writing, including case briefs, memoranda of law, external briefs, correspondence, and pleadings. They learn how to identify key legal issues and then organize and present findings effectively in any legal document. They master both legal and non-legal citations, utilizing Bluebook, ALWD, MLA, and APA formats. They also gain deep insight into effective writing through the entire writing process, from pre-writing to proofreading, grammar to word usage. Extensive pedagogical features include opening scenarios, lists of key terms, case excerpts, media and web resources, and many forms of practice, from Quick Check quizzes to detailed assignments. To link writing to research, the text also concisely reviews the legal system, legal authorities, and each type of law.

Author Biography

    Kathryn L. Krocza Myers is Associate Professor and Coordinator of Paralegal Studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), a small, Catholic, liberal arts college for women in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She has been involved in paralegal education since 1982 when she helped create the college’s paralegal program.

    She has been active in the American Association for Paralegal Educators (AAfPE) since 1989. She has served on numerous committees, was editor of The Paralegal Educator, and served as President of AAFPE in 2001–2002. She has chaired and served on the national conference committee since 2002. She has been a frequent speaker at regional and annual AAfPE conferences, often covering research and writing.

    She is actively involved in paralegal organizations and frequently creates continuing education sessions on legal research and writing, as well as other top¿ics, for programs sponsored by the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, and Indiana Paralegal Association. She has been a speaker for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), Illinois Paralegal Association, American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI), Navy Legalmen, and others. She has served NALA on its certifying board, served on NFPA’s Board of Directors, and is on the creden¿tialing board for AAPI. She reviews, publishes, and lectures on various areas of paralegal education such as research and writing, grant writing, litigation, career development, communication, internships, and substantive law topics.

    In 2010, Indiana Governor Mitchell Daniels named her an Outstanding Hoosier. The award, presented during the AAfPE conference, was presented by her long-time friend and supporter, The Honorable John G. Baker, Chief Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals. After several visits to the SMWC Law Day, a program she organized at the Woods that brings the Indiana Court of Appeals to campus to present an actual case to area middle and high school students, Judge Baker decided that they should “take the show on the road,” and today the Indiana Court of Appeals travels to various cities in Indiana meeting with students at the high school and college levels. The SMWC Law Day program was named the ABA “Outstanding Law Day Program for 1998.”

Locally, she has been Vice President in Children’s Theatre of Terre Haute and a Girl Scout leader. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), on the CASAKids board after serving two years as its president, and is a Mother’s March of Dimes volunteer. She also holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Table of Contents

Preface

 

Chapter 1    Introduction to Legal Research

Chapter 2     Introduction to Legal Sources as Foundation for Writing

Chapter 3     Legal Citation Form

Chapter 4    Citing Sources:  The Bluebook and ALWD

Chapter 5    Updating and Validating Research

Chapter 6    The Foundation of Writing

Chapter 7    The Case Brief

Chapter 8    Writing an Internal Memorandum of Law

Chapter 9    Writing External Briefs

Chapter 10    Correspondence 

Chapter 11    Drafting Pleadings and Other Legal Document

 

Appendices

Appendix 1    Form documents, briefs, memoranda

Appendix 2    Non-legal citations

Appendix 3    Internet resources

Appendix 4    Glossary