Legal Reasoning and Legal Writing: Structure, Strategy, and Style

by Neumann, Richard K.

• ISBN13: 9780735520042
• ISBN10: 0735520046
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Wolters Kluwer

Summary

With examples and exercises included throughout, the book's sweeping coverage includes: - writing an office memo, a motion memo, and an appellate brief- chapters on oral argument, client letters, and client intervie

Table of Contents

Contents	xiii
Preface	xxiii
Acknowledgments	xxv
PART I INTRODUCTION TO LAW AND ITS STUDY	1	(48)
An Introduction to American Law	3	(12)
Rule-Based Reasoning	15	(12)
An Introduction to Judicial Decisions and Statutes	27	(14)
Briefing Cases	41	(8)
PART II INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL WRITING	49	(18)
The Art of Legal Writing	51	(6)
The Process of Writing	57	(10)
PART III OFFICE MEMORANDA	67	(26)
Office Memoranda	69	(6)
Initially Obtaining the Facts: Client Interviewing	75	(6)
Predictive Writing	81	(12)
PART IV GENERAL WRITING SKILLS	93	(162)
How to Organize Proof of a Conclusion of Law	95	(24)
Selecting Authority	119	(16)
Working with Precendent	135	(22)
Working with Statutes	157	(26)
Working with Facts	183	(12)
Paragraphing	195	(10)
Effective Style	205	(24)
Citations and Quotations	229	(26)
PART V CLIENT LETTERS AND LAW SCHOOL EXAMINATION ANSWERS	255	(14)
Advising the Client in Writing: Client Letters	257	(6)
How to Write Exam Answers	263	(6)
PART VI THE SHIFT TO PERSUASION	269	(54)
Developing a Persuasive Theory	271	(14)
Developing Persuasive Arguments	285	(24)
Handling the Procedural Posture	309	(14)
PART VII MOTION MEMORANDA	323	(42)
Motion Memoranda	325	(6)
Point Headings and Sub-Headings	331	(10)
Statements of the Case	341	(14)
Questions Presented	355	(10)
PART VIII APPELLATE BRIEFS	365	(32)
Appellate Practice	367	(12)
Appellate Briefs	379	(8)
Writing the Appellate Brief	387	(10)
PART IX INTO THE COURTROOM	397	(24)
Oral Argument	399	(22)
APPENDICES	421	(82)
Appendix A Basic Legal Usage	423	(6)
Appendix B 24 Rules of Punctuation	429	(12)
Appendix C Sample Office Memorandum	441	(6)
Appendix D Sample Client Letter	447	(4)
Appendix E Sample Motion Memorandum	451	(10)
Appendix F Sample Appellant's Brief	461	(24)
Appendix G Sample Appellee's Brief	485	(18)
Index	503