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The leading guide to clear writing—and clear thinking—in the legal profession for more than two decades, now newly updated. Admirably clear, concise, down-to-earth, and powerful—all too often, legal writing embodies none of these qualities. Its reputation for obscurity and needless legalese is widespread. Since 2001, Bryan A. Garner’s Legal Writing in Plain English has helped address this problem by providing lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars with sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work. Now the leading guide to clear writing in the field, this indispensable volume encourages legal writers to challenge conventions and offers valuable insights into the writing process: how to organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills. Accessible and witty, Legal Writing in Plain English draws on real-life writing samples that Garner has gathered through decades of teaching experience. Trenchant advice covers all types of legal materials, from analytical and persuasive writing to legal drafting, and the book’s principles are reinforced by sets of basic, intermediate, and advanced exercises in each section. For this third edition, Garner has retained the structure of the previous versions, with updates and new material throughout. There are new sections on making your writing vivid and concrete and on using graphics to enhance your argument. The coverage and examples of key topics such as achieving parallelism, avoiding legalese, writing effective openers and summaries, and weaving quotations into your text have also been expanded. And the sample legal documents and exercises have been updated, while newly added checklists provide quick summaries of each section. Altogether, this new edition will be the most useful yet for legal professionals and students seeking to improve their prose. Read more

Best practices for legal writing in the workplace and for students of law. BarCharts, Inc was founded on our law guides created by the owner, designed to understand the significance of details within the larger scheme of the law, as a daily refresher, and to review before the Bar Exam. Twenty five years later we keep those guides up to date for students of law and criminal justice, paralegals and practicing lawyers to have the most handy legal reference to the most important points of the law possible in 6 laminated pages. 6-page laminated guide includes: Essentials of a Legal Memorandum Creating the Heading Explaining the Facts Drafting the Question Presented Drafting the Brief Answer Section Drafting the Discussion Section Drafting the Conclusion Section More Complex Organization Plans Best Practices for Editing & Revising Types of Legal Logic Plain English Translation Table Suggested uses: Students – keep your legal writing in check with a quick review plus constant refreshers before classes and exams Professionals – keep your legal writing in check long after passing the Bar exam Bar Exam – great review tool before for taking the exam Read more

With Point Made, legal writing expert, Ross Guberman, throws a life preserver to attorneys, who are under more pressure than ever to produce compelling prose. What is the strongest opening for a motion or brief? How to draft winning headings? How to tell a persuasive story when the record is dry and dense? The answers are "more science than art," says Guberman, who has analyzed stellar arguments by distinguished attorneys to develop step-by-step instructions for achieving the results you want. The author takes an empirical approach, drawing heavily on the writings of the nation's 50 most influential lawyers, including Barack Obama, John Roberts, Elena Kagan, Ted Olson, and David Boies. Their strategies, demystified and broken down into specific, learnable techniques, become a detailed writing guide full of practical models. In FCC v. Fox, for example, Kathleen Sullivan conjures the potentially dangerous, unintended consequences of finding for the other side (the "Why Should I Care?" technique). Arguing against allowing the FCC to continue fining broadcasters that let the "F-word" slip out, she highlights the chilling effect these fines have on America's radio and TV stations, "discouraging live programming altogether, with attendant loss to valuable and vibrant programming that has long been part of American culture."Each chapter of Point Made focuses on a typically tough challenge, providing a strategic roadmap and practical tips along with annotated examples of how prominent attorneys have resolved that challenge in varied trial and appellate briefs. Short examples and explanations with engaging titles--"Brass Tacks," "Talk to Yourself," "Russian Doll"--deliver weighty materials with a light tone, making the guidelines easy to remember and apply.In addition to all-new examples from the original 50 advocates, this Second Edition introduces eight new superstar lawyers from Solicitor General Don Verrilli, Deanne Maynard, Larry Robbins, and Lisa Blatt to Joshua Rosencranz, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Judy Clarke, and Sri Srinvasan, now a D.C. Circuit Judge. Ross Guberman also provides provocative new examples from the Affordable Care Act wars, the same-sex marriage fight, and many other recent high-profile cases. Considerably more commentary on the examples is included, along with dozens of style and grammar tips interspersed throughout. Also, for those who seek to improve their advocacy skills and for those who simply need a step-by-step guide to making a good brief better, the book concludes with an all-new set of 50 writing challenges corresponding to the 50 techniques. Read more

Buy a new version of this textbook and receive access to the Connected eBook with Study Center on Casebook Connect, including lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities. Access also includes practice questions, an outline tool, and other helpful resources. Connected eBooks provide what you need most to be successful in your law school classes.Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals emphasizes the skills and issues that paralegals encounter in practice. Thoroughly up to date, the Tenth Edition continues to combine clear text with visual aids, writing samples, tips, and pointers. Designed specifically for paralegal students, Deborah Bouchoux's classroom-tested approach teaches cutting-edge research skills, writing style, and proper citation form to equip students with an essential skill set and well-founded confidence. The author's logical and comprehensive approach enhances students' understanding. Part I covers Primary Authorities, Part II discusses Secondary Authorities, and Part III covers the basics of Legal Writing. In addition, Bouchoux integrates writing strategies into each research chapter to demonstrate the link between the two processes. The text thoroughly explains proper citation form and updating/validating legal authorities. The Legal Writing section includes samples of legal writing, such as letters, a court brief, and a legal memorandum.New to the Tenth Edition: Significant focus on newer technologies available to legal researchers such as Lexis+ Brief Analysis, Westlaw Edge's Quick Check, and more. Coverage of the use of analytics tools now used by legal professionals, such as Lexis+ Context. An entirely new section in Chapter 11 on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal research. Expanded section on techniques to achieve gender-inclusive language. A new section in Chapter 15 on using tech tools such as ProWritingAid, BriefCatch, WordRake, NoRedInk, and Cooley GO to improve writing. A new section on texting and confidentiality issues in Chapter 16. A completely revamped and expanded discussion on e-memos in Chapter 17. Revised throughout with new ethics alerts and updated figures. All new Research Questions and Internet Legal Research Assignments included in each chapter. Professors and students will benefit from:Clear pedagogy designed to enhance the accessibility of the material. Targeted and ample exercises help students learn how to use a wide range of research sources. Charts and practice tips, updated for this edition, help students apply what they have learned. Thorough coverage of electronic research with chapters on both Internet research and fee-based services. Read more

Plain English for Lawyers has been a favorite of law students, legal writing teachers, lawyers, and judges for almost 40 years. The seventh edition, co-authored by Amy Sloan, updates this classic text while preserving all the approaches that make it such a standard in the field. In addition to guiding students through techniques for producing clear writing, this edition includes new exercises, a discussion of the principles of document design, a chapter on the appropriate uses of generative AI for writing, and detailed coverage of best practices for correct pronoun usage and avoiding gendered language. Plain English for Lawyers remains (in size only!) a little book, small enough and palatable enough not to intimidate overloaded law students.In January 2005, the Legal Writing Institute gave Wydick its Golden Pen Award for having written Plain English for Lawyers. The Legal Writing Institute is a non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and scholarship about legal writing, analysis, and research. The Institute has over 1,300 members representing all of the ABA-accredited law schools in the United States. Its membership also includes law teachers from other nations, English teachers, and practicing lawyers. Read more

With expanded coverage in this new edition, The Elements of Legal Style features additional sections, many more examples, and a thoroughly researched appendix that contains 80 major statements on prose style--what it is and how to attain it.Inspired by Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, this book clearly (often wittily) explains the full range of what legal writers need to know: mechanics, word choice, structure, and rhetoric, as well as all the special conventions that legal writers should follow in using headings, defined terms, quotations, and many other devices. Garner also provides abundant examples from the best legal writers of yesterday and today, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Clarence Darrow, Frank Easterbrook, and Antonin Scalia.If you want to make your writing clearer, more precise, more persuasive, and above all more stylish, The Elements of Legal Style offers the surest--and the most enjoyable--means to that end. Read more

Elegant Legal Writing helps attorneys elevate their writing from passable to polished. Drawing on ideas from cognitive science, stylistics, and litigation strategy, the book teaches practical techniques by example using fast-paced chapters. Readers will learn the essentials of effective legal composition:   Writing clear, efficient prose Crafting strong arguments Telling a client's story through a compelling narrative Overcoming procrastination and drafting more productively Readability, aesthetics, and argumentation are intertwined. Ryan McCarl shows how litigation documents that are easier and more pleasant to read are more likely to persuade judges and other busy readers. The book also discusses parts of legal writing that many guides overlook, including sentence mechanics, writing technology, and typography. Read more

New for 2025!Based on the perennial Amazon #1 Best Seller "Bar Exam Essay Rules," The Big Book of California Bar Exam Essay Writing is your one-stop-shop for all you'll need to pass the most difficult Bar Examination in the United States - The California Bar Examination! After spending three years in law school, as well as the equivalent of the gross domestic product of a small principality on a bar exam preparation program, bar candidates should walk into the bar exam expecting to pass. Sadly, that’s not the case, with some states posting pass rates in the vicinity of 20%.Why is this? Simply put, law students learn to write like lawyers in law school, and not in the simple, analytical format required by most bar exams. Factor in that all law professors have their own idiosyncrasies to their writing style, and that most law school students will face a couple of dozen different Law Professors while earning their Juris Doctorate Degree, it’s no secret why law students struggle with their writing on exam day.Enter the Big Book of California Bar Exam Essay Writing, the solution to learning to write the way bar graders want you to write. Learn how to answer the questions without the massive amount of legal word salad, and in a direct, logical format using bar-exam-tested rule statements designed for accuracy and easy memorization. Containing the complete package of rule statements from Bar Exam Essay Rules, this book provides all of the law you need to pass the California Bar Exam. Additionally, it provides 49 actual, recent essay questions with corresponding answers, annotated along the way to keep the reader abreast of the “how and why” of bar exam essay writing.“The Big Book” is your ticket to not only understanding the law, but to passing the bar exam and moving forward in your legal career! Read more

"[I]f you want to become a real lawyer (or mentor a young'un to become one), and you really don't know how, then this is really the book for you. . . . Really!"- The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, Senior United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska, at Hercules and the Umpire"[A]absolutely addictive, unputdown-able. . . . Curmudgeon's Guide pulls off - with great elan - a technique that many writers attempt, only to crash and burn in the face of its extraordinary degree of difficulty. That technique is to deliver deadly accurate truths veiled in laugh-out-loud humor."- Bruce MacEwen, Law Firm Consultant, at Adam Smith, Esq. Read more

This primer on legal reasoning is aimed at law students and upper-level undergraduates. But it is also an original exposition of basic legal concepts that scholars and lawyers will find stimulating. It covers such topics as rules, precedent, authority, analogical reasoning, the common law, statutory interpretation, legal realism, judicial opinions, legal facts, and burden of proof.In addressing the question whether legal reasoning is distinctive, Frederick Schauer emphasizes the formality and rule-dependence of law. When taking the words of a statute seriously, when following a rule even when it does not produce the best result, when treating the fact of a past decision as a reason for making the same decision again, or when relying on authoritative sources, the law embodies values other than simply that of making the best decision for the particular occasion or dispute. In thus pursuing goals of stability, predictability, and constraint on the idiosyncrasies of individual decision-makers, the law employs forms of reasoning that may not be unique to it but are far more dominant in legal decision-making than elsewhere.Schauer’s analysis of what makes legal reasoning special will be a valuable guide for students while also presenting a challenge to a wide range of current academic theories. Read more

Carolina Academic Press will publish the fifth edition of Richard Wydick’s Plain English for Lawyers in time for use in the fall of 2005. Wydick’s little book has been a favorite of law students, legal writing teachers, lawyers, and judges for over 25 years.Last January, the Legal Writing Institute gave Wydick its Golden Pen Award for having written Plain English for Lawyers. The Legal Writing Institute is a non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and scholarship about legal writing, analysis, and research. The Institute has over 1,300 members representing all of the ABA-accredited law schools in the United States. Its membership also includes law teachers from other nations, English teachers, and practicing lawyers.The LWI award states: “Plain English for Lawyers . . . has become a classic. Perhaps no single work has done more to improve the writing of lawyers and law students and to promote the modern trend toward a clear, plain style of legal writing.” In 2003 Wydick retired after 32 years on the law faculty of the University of California, Davis. But he still teaches his favorite course — a seminar in advanced legal writing for third-year law students. For the past eight summers he has also lectured at the International Legislative Drafting Institute presented in New Orleans by the Public Law Center, a joint venture of Tulane and Loyola law schools. There the audience consists of lawyers and non-lawyers from abroad who earn their living drafting legislation in many different languages. “Teaching at the Institute,” Wydick says, “is a precious opportunity to learn how much we English-users have in common with people who write laws in other languages.” How will the fifth edition of Plain English for Lawyers differ from its predecessors? Wydick promises that it will remain a little book, small enough and palatable enough not to intimidate over-loaded law students. “Most of the text will remain the same,” Wydick says, “but in the past seven years I’ve learned some new things about writing in English, and I want to share that with the readers.” In addition, the exercises at the end of the chapters will be different (a welcome change for long-time teachers who are tired of the old ones). Finally, the teacher’s manual will include additional exercises that teachers can give to students who want or need extra practice. Read more

The third edition of Legal Analysis: The Fundamental Skill continues to teach students the critical skills of legal reasoning. This popular book introduced the CREAC paradigm to law students. The third edition builds on the basics of the CREAC paradigm and explains how to use CREAC in a variety of additional ways. The book is a practical and clear guide that explains the many ways lawyers analyze the law. The authors demystify legal analysis through step-by-step explanations of the different levels of critical thinking to thoroughly explain and apply the law to a client's case. New examples and exercises are also included. Read more

This is a revision of noted author Deborah Bouchoux's market-leading legal research and writing text for paralegal students. This clear, well-organized text is designed specifically for paralegal students, offering a comprehensive overview of research and writing skills, reinforced by illustrations and exercises. Part I covers Primary Authorities, Part II discuses Secondary Authorities, and Part III covers the basics of Legaal Writing. The Legal Writing section includes samples of legal writing, such as letters, a court brief, and a legal memorandum, though throughout the book, Bouchoux integrates writing strategies into each research chapter to demonstrate the link between the two processes. In addition, there is thorough coverage of electronic research, including a chapter on internet research as well as fee-based services such as Lexis Advance and Westlaw. Additional tips on how to effectively use electronic resources are also included throughout the text. Bouchoux thoroughly explains proper citation form and updating/validating legal authorities. Read more

Limited EditionMaster Legal Writing in Use + Workbook + 100 Expert Email, Letter & Legal Memo Templates. Clear & Effective Legal Writing for Beginners & Law School Students: Contracts, Memos, Emails & Letters. Get your copyNOW."Get it right and keep it tight."Book Summary:"Master Legal Writing in Use + Workbook + 100 Expert Email, Letter & Legal Memo Templates. Clear & Effective Legal Writing for Beginners & Law School Students: Contracts, Memos, Emails & Letters" is a must-read for law students and beginner lawyers who want to improve their writing skills. This book provides a clear and effective approach to legal writing, with a focus on crafting compelling legal memos, emails, letters, contracts, and forms. It covers everything from writing in plain English, to more advanced areas of Legal English Writing, and key skills required to succeed in the legal field.This Legal Writing Toolkit includes:Introduction to legal EnglishClear and effective approach to legal writingComprehensive guide for law students and beginner lawyersCovers legal memos, emails, letters, contracts and legal formsFocuses on writing in plain Legal EnglishIncludes key skills for success in the legal fieldUnique writing strategies for lawyersLegal forms book for quick referencePractical examples and exercises for hands-on learning.Master the essentials of legal writing with this practical guide.Perfect for both native and non-native English-speaking lawyers, this book offers hands-on lessons in the language of legal writing.With a focus on clarity and concision, you'll learn the essentials of writing simple letters, powerful memoranda, compelling emails, and contracts. This book covers everything from emailing to advanced skills like managing your inbox, building rapport with clients, and writing simple, yet effective memos.Clear communication is the cornerstone of a successful legal career. It is what sets you apart as a professional, and it is what allows you to build trust and credibility with your clients and colleagues.Effective writing in the legal profession requires attention to detail, professionalism, and the ability to convey complex information in a concise and easily understandable manner.Legal Writing in Use:A Practical Guide for Lawyers, Paralegals, and Legal Professionals + 100 Expert Email & Letter TemplatesThis comprehensive guide is perfect for new lawyers, solicitors, paralegals, and legal secretaries looking to take their professional communication to the next level.With 100 downloadable expert email and letter templates, you'll have all the tools you need to write clear, concise, and effective writing. And with a focus on language clarity, this book is also great for non-native English speakers looking to improve their legal writing skills. Don't let poor email communication hold you back in your legal career - add "Master Legal Writing in Use" to your collection today. Read more

Let's be honest. Law school isn't just challenging; it's a relentless gauntlet designed to test your limits. From the Socratic terror of a 1L Contracts class at Berkeley to the marathon outlining sessions prepping for finals at HLS, the demands are immense. Now, add ADHD to the mix. Suddenly, managing slogging through Pennoyer feels impossible, staying focused during a three-hour Corporations lecture is a battle, and organizing your notes for the OCI race to land that coveted spot at a Wachtell or Susman seems insurmountable.You're not imagining it. The executive function demands of law school—intense focus, meticulous organization, long-term planning, working memory recall under pressure—can feel fundamentally incompatible with the ADHD brain. But what if you could turn perceived weaknesses into manageable challenges, even strengths? "Law School, ADHD & You" isn't your standard study guide. Penned with a deep understanding of both the high-stakes pressure cooker of elite legal education and the nuances of ADHD, this is your tailored toolkit. Forget generic tips; this book dives deep into:Decoding the Socratic Method: Strategies to prepare, engage, and survive cold calls without derailing.Taming the Reading Load: Active reading techniques for dense case law, specifically adapted for ADHD focus patterns.Building Bulletproof Outlines: Structuring complex legal concepts logically when your thoughts tend to scatter.Mastering Exam Performance: Issue-spotting and time management under pressure, leveraging accommodations effectively.Navigating Networking & OCI: Managing social anxiety and executive function demands during the high-stakes job hunt for Big Law or clerkships.Leveraging Hyperfocus: Channeling your unique ability to deep-dive into topics that ignite your interest (hello, Law Review note!).Self-Advocacy & Well-being: Protecting your mental health and securing the support you need, from Disability Services to mentors.Whether you're navigating the pre-OCI frenzy trying to network your way out of Columbia's Jerome Greene Hall, deciphering Stanford's Honors/Pass system while surrounded by future tech-GCs, trying to maintain UVA Law's famed collegiality amidst the stress of journal tryouts, or balancing Berkeley Law's commitment to social justice with the hunt for that elusive Big Law SA spot – this guide provides actionable, ADHD-specific strategies. Stop fighting your brain and start working with it. Transform your law school journey from a daily battle for survival into a platform for genuine success.Invest in your future. Click 'Buy Now' and get the strategies you need to thrive. Read more

Real life examples, and sample documents serve as a resource for anyone who has to perform legal research or draft legal documents. A complete chapter is devoted to computer-assisted legal research written by an expert in the field. Read more

This guide helps you cite legal references correctly in briefs and law review articles. Read more

Buy a new version of this textbook and receive access to the Connected eBook with Study Center on CasebookConnect, including: lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities; practice questions from your favorite study aids; an outline tool and other helpful resources. Connected eBooks provide what you need most to be successful in your law school classes. With the authors’ effective step-by-step approach, The Legal Writing Handbook: Analysis, Research, and Writing walks students through each of the stages of the writing process from pre-writing, drafting, and editing, to the final draft. A leading text for generations of law students, the Eighth Edition gives students a head start as they move into practice.The Legal Writing Handbook offers a complete resource on legal writing. Part I provides students with an introduction to the U.S. Legal System; Part II gives an overview of legal research, with both an introduction to sources and to research strategies; Part III introduces students to predictive memos, e-memos, and client letters; Part IV covers motion briefs; Part V offers an overview of appellate briefs; Part VI introduces oral advocacy; Part VII is a guide to effective writing; Part VIII is a guide to correct writing; and Part IX focuses on the needs of ESL writers. With a new streamlined organization and completely updated content, this is the only book on legal writing students will ever need.New to the Eighth Edition: Streamlined organization with chapters focused on key topicsNew appendix with easy reference to all the Quick Tips to improve legal writingUpdated and added discussion throughout the book on the role of bias in legal language and argumentationA new chapter introducing rhetoric and biasProfessors and student will benefit from:Given the breadth of coverage, the book can be easily adapted for two-, three-, or four-semester programs.Multiple examples and sample documents—­this text demystifies legal writing.Helpful overview of the American legal systemStep-by-step instruction on how to write formal memos, e-memos, and opinion lettersStep-by-step instruction on how to write motion and appellate briefsIn-depth instruction on how to write and edit effectively and correctlyResources for ESL law studentsWith online Connected Coursebook access, students receive additional exercises with sample answers and other helpful resources. Read more

Learn to become a great writer and master modern grammar rules with the U.S. Supreme Court justices as your guide.In The Supreme Guide to Writing, law professor Jill Barton cuts through competing advice to detail definitive grammar rules based on the nation's unequivocal authority: the U.S. Supreme Court. The book details a revolution in legal writing, with the justices progressing beyond the drab and technical for the deft and lyrical. With the first-ever analysis of 10,000 pages of Court opinions, the book pinpoints grammar and style rules that the justices follow--and describes the outdated rules they leave behind. Today's Court casts aside formality in favor of pop-culture references, contractions, and approachable language. In addition to establishing grammar and style rules,the book illustrates best practices with hundreds of examples of the justices' most brilliant sentences from the past several years. With step-by-step instructions, the book describes how to emulate the justices' writing styles by breaking down their strategies and techniques. It shows how Justice Elena Kagan lands amusing quips and weaves together down-to-earth analogies, how Justice Neil Gorsuch executes witty retorts, and how Chief Justice John Roberts pens unforgettable lines with understated style and humor. The best writing appears effortless, but it also takes tremendous effort. Legal writing even more so. The Supreme Guide to Writing provides a nonpartisan look at how the justices present their words to the world. Read more