By Heidi K. Brown As oral arguments approach, many 1Ls experience anxiety toward this “rite-of-passage.” For introverted students or others who prefer thinking and writing before speaking, the pressure for spontaneous verbal exchange is daunting. Some students assume that reticence toward this assignment indicates they are not cut out for the law. Not true! Quiet… Continue Reading Legal Writing Matters: The Best Oral Arguments Aren’t Perfect, They’re Real

By Ellie Margolis Since most legal documents are created and read electronically, lawyers are starting to incorporate hyperlinks directly into their memos and briefs. The most common use of hyperlinks is for citations to legal authority, though a document could also contain hyperlinks to many other sources, including the factual record and non-legal sources of… Continue Reading Legal Writing Matters: Get Ready For Hyperlinks in Legal Briefs and Memos

By Stephanie Roberts Hartung For centuries, legal writing has been a vehicle for social change. Over the years, appellate and amicus curiae briefs have been instrumental in bringing about reform in the arenas of marriage equality, reproductive rights, and criminal justice—to name a few. Law students can use their newly-acquired lawyering skills to pursue the… Continue Reading Legal Writing Matters: Using Legal Writing to Overturn Wrongful Convictions