Practical Legal Writing for Legal Assistants

by Elwell, Celia; Smith, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780314061157
• ISBN10: 0314061150
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-02-02
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

This text is designed to cover all aspects of paralegal writing. It is intended not only as a text for paralegal instruction, but as a desk reference tool for practicing paralegals. It includes many practice examples and exercises in both the text and in the appendices. ALSO AVAILABLE INSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENTS CALL CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO ORDER Instructors Manual - (with Test Bank and Transparency Masters)ISBN: 0-314-06116-9

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(6)
Fact Scenario	2	(5)
Communication Skills	7	(20)
Listening Skills	7	(1)
Oral Communication Skills	8	(1)
Note-Taking Skills	8	(2)
Dictation Skills	10	(4)
Dictation Equipment	11	(1)
Dictation Etiquette	11	(1)
Editing	11	(1)
Dictation Dos and Don'ts	11	(3)
Telephone Skills	14	(1)
Telephone Etiquette	14	(1)
Organizing Your Thoughts	14	(1)
Putting the Caller On Hold	14	(1)
Taking Notes during the Call	14	(1)
Ending the Telephone Call	15	(1)
Returning Calls Promptly	15	(1)
Communication Between Lawyers and Legal Assistants	15	(3)
Paraphrasing	16	(1)
Clarification	16	(1)
Don't Be Afraid of Saying ``I Don't Know''	16	(1)
Prioritizing Assignments	17	(1)
Receiving Criticism Constructively	18	(1)
Communication Between Legal Assistants and Other Support Staff	18	(2)
Office Etiquette and Procedures	18	(1)
Handling Personnel Issues	19	(1)
Communication Between the Legal Assistant and Client	20	(7)
Ethical Considerations	20	(3)
Client Communications	23	(4)
Legal Writing---The Basics	27	(24)
Keep It Simple	27	(7)
Eliminating Pomposity	28	(1)
Handling Jargon	29	(1)
Trimming Verbosity	29	(1)
Achieving Simplicity	30	(4)
Keep It Short	34	(2)
Writing Short Phrases	34	(1)
Writing Short Sentences	34	(1)
Writing Short Paragraphs	35	(1)
Eliminating Pleonasms	35	(1)
Keep It Professional	36	(5)
``Eschewing'' Legalese	36	(1)
Avoiding Babble	37	(1)
Using the Right Word	38	(3)
Using Correct Word Order	41	(1)
A Touch of Class	41	(4)
Avoiding Overemphasis	42	(1)
Using Repetition	42	(1)
Using Alliteration	42	(1)
Using Vivid Language	43	(1)
Using Quotations Sparingly	44	(1)
Proofread	45	(6)
Using a Proofreader	46	(1)
Reading Slowly	46	(5)
Grammar and Punctuation	51	(26)
Grammar	51	(14)
Pronoun References	51	(2)
Case Forms of Pronouns	53	(1)
Number	53	(2)
Singular and Plural	55	(1)
Active and Passive Voice	56	(1)
Mood	57	(1)
Double Negatives	58	(1)
Nominalization	58	(1)
Parallel Construction	59	(1)
Split Infinitives	59	(1)
Possessives	60	(1)
That or Which	60	(1)
Where, When, and In Which	60	(1)
Dangling Modifiers	61	(2)
Compound Words	63	(1)
Both...And	63	(1)
Run-On Sentences	64	(1)
Dangling Prepositions	64	(1)
Contractions	64	(1)
Whether (Or Not)	64	(1)
Punctuation	65	(6)
Commas	65	(1)
Semicolons	66	(1)
Colons	66	(1)
Quotation Marks	67	(1)
Dashes and Hyphens	67	(1)
Apostrophes	68	(1)
Parentheses	68	(1)
Brackets	68	(1)
Ellipses	69	(1)
Slashes	70	(1)
Capitalization	71	(6)
Proper Names	71	(1)
Titles	71	(6)
Correspondence and Internal Memorandums	77	(26)
Internal Memorandums	77	(4)
Uses for Memos	78	(1)
Deadline Ticklers	78	(1)
When to Write a Memo	79	(2)
Correspondence	81	(22)
Writing Letters	81	(8)
Formatting Letters	89	(4)
Writing Different Kinds of Letters	93	(10)
Legal Research	103	(38)
Legal Authority	103	(1)
Primary Authority	103	(1)
Secondary Authority	104	(1)
The Research Process	104	(30)
Legal Encyclopedias and Treatises	104	(1)
Corpus Juris Secundum	105	(7)
Digests	112	(3)
Case Law	115	(6)
The Statutes	121	(8)
Shepard's Citator	129	(5)
Research Hints	134	(7)
Citation Form	141	(14)
The Bluebook	141	(1)
Spacing in Citations	142	(1)
Case Law	142	(6)
Federal Cases	143	(2)
State Cases	145	(1)
Subsequent History of Cases	146	(1)
Introductory Signals	146	(1)
Short Citations	147	(1)
Statutes	148	(2)
Secondary Authority	150	(2)
Treatises	150	(1)
Legal Encyclopedias	151	(1)
Legal Periodicals	151	(1)
Local Rules and Customs	152	(3)
Legal Analysis	155	(9)
Case Briefs	156	(8)
Facts	156	(1)
Title and Citation	157	(1)
Procedural History	158	(1)
The Opinion	158	(1)
Legal Theories of the Parties	159	(1)
The Facts	160	(1)
The Issues	161	(1)
The Holding of the Court	162	(1)
The Court's Rationale	163	(1)
The Judgment	164	(1)
Sample Case Briefs	164	(19)
Legal Memorandum	183	(44)
Cases	183	(1)
Elements of the Legal Memorandum	184	(9)
Heading or Caption	184	(1)
Introduction	185	(1)
Statement of Facts	185	(1)
Questions Presented and Brief Answers	186	(1)
Pertinent Statutes	187	(1)
Discussion	187	(5)
String Citations	192	(1)
Conclusion	192	(1)
Other Considerations	193	(34)
Focus of the Memorandum	193	(1)
Length of the Memorandum	193	(1)
Designation of Parties, Events, Documents, and Things	193	(2)
Legal Authority	195	(32)
Drafting Briefs	227	(80)
Briefs	227	(2)
Court Rules	228	(1)
Brief Banks	229	(1)
Trial Briefs	229	(22)
Scheduling Conference and Order	229	(4)
Pretrial Conference and Final Pretrial Order	233	(6)
Components of the Trial Brief	239	(12)
Appellate Briefs	251	(11)
The Parts of the Appellate Brief	252	(10)
Finalizing and Preparing a Brief for Filing	262	(45)
Checklist for Preparing and Filing a Brief	262	(1)
Tips for Saving Space	263	(44)
Pleadings	307	(70)
Federal Courts	307	(1)
Rules of Civil Procedure	307	(1)
Pleadings	308	(4)
Types of Pleadings	308	(2)
Fact Pleadings and Notice Pleadings	310	(1)
Boilerplate Pleadings	311	(1)
General Format for Pleadings	312	(10)
Caption or Style of the Case	312	(1)
Title of the Pleading	313	(1)
Body of the Pleading	314	(6)
Signature Block	320	(1)
Certificate of Service	321	(1)
Service of Process	322	(1)
Drafting Specific Pleadings	323	(54)
Drafting the Complaint	323	(7)
Filing Fees	330	(1)
Filing the Complaint	330	(4)
Checklist for Drafting and Filing to the Complaint	334	(1)
Drafting the Answer	335	(5)
Checklist for Drafting an Answer to the Complaint	340	(1)
Drafting the Counterclaim or Cross-Claim	340	(2)
Pleading Checklist	342	(35)
Motions and Supporting Briefs	377	(32)
Court Rules	377	(2)
Requirements for Drafting Motions	378	(1)
Setting the Motion for Hearing and Giving Notice to Opposing Counsel	378	(1)
Rule 11	379	(1)
Drafting the Body of the Motion	379	(3)
Motions That Require Supporting Briefs	382	(20)
Motion to Compel Discovery	383	(3)
Motion for Protective Order	386	(1)
Motion for Sanctions	387	(2)
Motion to Dismiss	389	(5)
Motion for Summary Judgment	394	(8)
Checklist for Completing Motions and Supporting Briefs	402	(7)
Drafting Discovery Documents	409
Discovery	409
Discovery Narrows the Issues	409
What Else Does Discovery Do?	409
Court Rules for Discovery	409
What Is Discoverable?	410
Relevance	410
Privilege	411
Discovery Strategy	411
Types of Discovery	412
Interrogatories---Rule 33, Fed. R. Civ. P.	412
Requests for Production of Documents (or Tangible Things)---Rule 34, Fed. R. Civ.P.	413
Depositions---Rules 27, 28, 30, 31, and 32, Fed.R. Civ.P.	413
Request for Physical or Mental Examination---Rule 35, Fed.R. Civ.P.	413
Request for Admissions---Rule 36, Fed.R. Civ.P.	414
Applying Discovery Strategy	414
Interrogatories	415
Interrogatories May Be Served Only upon Parties	416
Drafting and Responding to Interrogatories	416
Guidelines for Drafting Interrogatories	417
Limitation on the Number of Interrogatories	419
Ladder or Branching Interrogatories	420
The Basic Structure of Interrogatories	420
Boilerplate Interrogatories	424
How to Find Out the Identity of Documents and Witnesses	425
Expert Witnesses	426
Contention Interrogatories	428
Answers to Interrogatories	429
Signature, Verification, and Certificate of Mailing	430
Requests for Production of Documents or Things	430
Guidelines for Drafting Requests for Production	431
Definitions and Instructions	431
Drafting the Requests for Production	432
Responses to Requests for Production	433
Depositions	434
Drafting Deposition Documents	434
Deposing Non-Party Witnesses	435
Summarizing Depositions	440
Requests for Physical or Mental Examination	443
Requests for Admissions	444
Drafting Requests for Admissions	445
Drafting Responses to Requests for Admissions	446
Appendixes
Appendix A-Commonly Misspelled Words	A-1
Appendix B-Which Preposition?	B-1
Appendix C-Unnecessary Verbiage and Stuffy Words	C-1
Appendix D-Sample Case Brief	D-1
Appendix E-Sample Legal Memorandum	E-1
Appendix F-Brief Cheat Sheet	F-1
Appendix G-Sample Trial Brief	G-1
Appendix H-Motion for Protective Order and Supporting Brief	H-1
Appendix I-Deposition of Defendant	I-1
Glossary	Glossary-1
Index	Index-1