Basic Legal Writing for Paralegals

by Hope Viner Samborn

The authors concentrate on the material paralegal students must master:
- covers the entire legal writing process, guiding students through each stage from prewriting strategies to revising, covering the IRAC method, legal memoranda, letters, and more
- precise focus on essentials -- basics of the legal system, overview of style and grammar, case briefing, legal memoranda, persuasive writing, including complaints and answers, the specialized documents paralegals often draft (witness statements, file summaries, deposition summaries, and deposition abstracts), and letters
- clear and engaging examples throughout the text help students understand how to apply concepts
- helpful pedagogy, including chapter overviews, chapter summaries, key terms, and exercises
Thoroughly revised for its second edition, the text offers thoughtful new material:
- a simpler example of a slip-and-fall case in the legal memorandum chapter, which now offers both a basic and a more advanced example
- complete sample memoranda included in an appendix
- rewritten case briefing chapter now provides clearer examples based on real cases
- e-mail correspondence added to the chapter on letter writing
- Practice Tips, Net Notes, and Ethics Alerts appear throughout the book
- more exercises, particularly on grammar and citation
- citation appendix now includes ALWD as well as The Bluebook
- redesigned text increases accessibility

324 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1995