Infopaket

Legal Writing

ДВС.3.01.02

Вибіркова дисципліна для ОП

Second

2023/2024

2 Semester

3

To know and master theoretical knowledge of the concept of legal reasoning, critical thinking and writing; the techniques of performing legal research, locating the sources and legal materials to be used; basic rules of legal referencing and citation, to wit citation of cases, laws, journals, books, websites, as well as preparing bibliographies; the main approaches to writing extended and argumentative legal essays, that demonstrate the in-depth research in a professional, academic, and analytical style; characteristics of preparing legal analyses, to wit organizing an analysis, preparing analysis of a single issues and analysis of multiple issues; the rules of drafting persuasive writings with structured arguments and statements of facts.

1. Knowledge of the Fundamental Theory of International Law, Public International Law, International Legal Regulation, Law of Treaties, Constitutional Law, Civil Law. 2. Ability to analyse and establish the content of legal norms and provisions of international and national law, to wit international treaties and national laws and bylaws; to apply the norms and principles of international and national law, as well as decisions of relevant international courts and tribunals for preparing arguments. 3. Have the basic skills of legal analysis and synthesis, critical thinking, working out of a considerable amount of legal material while providing one’s own conclusions and proposals.

Thematic plan of the discipline: 1. Legal reasoning and critical thinking in writing. Academic integrity. 2. Researching and using legal materials, to wit cases, legal acts, academic writings, law journals, Internet resources. Legal referencing and citation. 3. Researching and writing professional essays. Advanced, academic, critical and analytical style of writing. 4. Writing legal analysis. Rules to organise the analysis. Analyses of single and multiple issues. 5. Researching and writing memos for law-trained readers. Organizing the memo. 6. Writing professional letters. 7. Drafting legal briefs. Finding and structuring legal arguments, their refining and review, the statement of facts. Converting the draft to a brief.

1. Dr. Steve Foster. Legal writing skills. How to write better law essays. Coventry Law School, Coventry University. Fifth edition. Harlow, England; New York : Pearson, 2019. 2. Beazley, Mary Beth, Smith, Monte G. Legal writing for legal readers : predictive writing for first-year students. Second edition. New York : Wolters Kluwer, 2019. 3. Edwards, Linda Holdeman. Legal writing and analysis. FourthEdition. Wolters Kluwe, 2015. 4. Cathy Glaser, Jethro K. Lieberman, Robert A. Ruescher, And Lynn Boepple. The Lawyer's Craft: An Introduction To Legal Analysis, Writing, Research, And Advocacy. Anderson Publishing Co, 2002. 5. Garner, Bryan A. Legal writing in plain English : a text with exercises. The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London, 2001.

Lectures, seminars

Evaluation is carried out according to the modular rating system. Current control: answers (up to 48 points), written assignment (up to 22 points), final modular test (up to 30 points). The form of final control is a final test. The final test is conducted in writing. The student's answer to the final test – up to 40 points.

English