Good legal writing is an inherently ethical practice and fundamental to professionalism and lawyering.
Legal Writing: Academic and Professional Communication emphasises the link between legal writing and ethics as it guides readers through phases of the writing process and helps them develop effective legal writing skills essential for both academic and professional contexts. The book covers a range of academic writing commonly encountered by undergraduate and postgraduate law students including case notes, problem questions and essays. It also explores specific forms of legal writing required in the profession, through client letters, memoranda, appellate briefs and reports to support novice writers in understanding their ethical obligations and developing a professional voice.KEY FEATURESProvides grounding in good writing techniques with practical guidance and examples across a range of academic and professional writing genresExtensive learning materials including a grammar primmer, theories of writing and comparative tables outlining professional rules for ongoing referenceIncludes exercises, questions for reflection and further reading at the end of each chapter to help students hone their skills as legal writers
1. Legal Writing as an Ethical PracticePART 1 GENERAL AND ACADEMIC WRITING 2. Pre-writing3 Researching for Writing4. Drafting, Revising, Editing and Proofreading 5. Case Notes and Problem Questions6. Research Essays, Theses and DissertationsPART 2 PROFESSIONAL WRITING7. Balanced Writing: The Memorandum and Client Letter8. Persuasive Writing9. Form Writing: Standard Forms and Use of Precedents10. Technical Writing11. Writing with Civility12. Reflective Practices and Everyday Communication13. ConclusionPART 3 LEARNING MATERIALSTheories of WritingComparative TablesA Grammar PrimerGlossary
Paula Baron Professor and Chair of Common Law, La Trobe Law School, La Trobe University Lillian Corbin Associate Professor, School of Law, University of New England