This practical, student-focused text introduces writing skills essential for successful study in law and explains how to apply them in a legal context. Although designed as a course book for first year law students, it has ongoing relevance throughout law school and beyond.
Basic literacy, legal literacy and writing skills are explored in a way that is fully integrated into legal content, reflecting current pedagogical best-practice. The text assists students to develop sound legal writing skills, providing a solid foundation to enhance performance in professional legal writing tasks. It includes many examples, case studies and exercises and is supported by extensive online resources for lecturers.
The third edition has been updated throughout and includes a new chapter on ‘Writing in the Digital Age’ and a new section on reflective writing tasks in Chapter 5.
Features
• Integrates basic literacy, legal literacy and writing skills into working with legal content
• Includes many examples, case-studies, questions and exercises
• Includes new chapter on writing in the digital age
• Supports achievement of Australian Teaching and Learning Council (ALTC) threshold learning outcomes (TLO) for law, in particular TLO 5: Communication and collaboration
• Extensive lecturer and student resources on Lexis Learning
Related Titles
• Bott & Talbot-Stokes, Nemes and Coss’ Effective Legal Research, 7th ed, 2018
• Creyke, Hamer, O’Mara, Smith & Taylor, Laying Down the Law, 11th ed, 2021
• Meehan & Tulloch, LexisNexis Guides: Grammar for Lawyers, 3rd ed, 2013
• Stuhmcke, LexisNexis Guides: Legal Referencing, 5th ed, 2020
1. Introduction — The importance of good writing skills and their professional application
2. Grammar Matters: English Grammar and the Law — The relevance of grammar with useful case studies and a focus on difficult areas
3. Plain English Writing and the Law — The development, principles and application of plain English writing
4. Ethical Considerations and Referencing Conventions — Academic integrity, especially plagiarism, and accurate legal citation>
5. Academic Legal Writing — How to approach, prepare and draft case notes, essays and answers to problem scenarios
6. Profession-Orientated Writing — Includes letters, outlines of arguments, memoranda, barristers’ opinions and document drafting
7. Writing in the Digital Age — Includes tips for and examples of legal writing for the online reader
8. Planning, Editing and Reflecting — Document and time organisation, editing and how to make the most of feedback