LAWYERING SKILLS & STRATEGIES
FALL 2016
PROFESSOR SUSAN RACHLIN
STUDENT SYLLABUS
Lecture
Topic
Class 1A
Aug. 22
Introduction to the U.S. Legal
System
Legal Problem Solving:
Reading and Analyzing the
Law
Introduction to Legal Analysis
(CREAC); Introduction to
Citation; Synthesis
Read Packet Tabs 1–3.
Class 2B
Sept. 1
Synthesis: Deriving the Rule
Read Clary 31–46.
Class 2C
Sept. 2
Class 3A
Sept. 5
Class 3B
Synthesis; Citation—Case
Names
Labor Day—no class
Read Clary 47–69.
Class 3C
Basic Writing Skills Boot
Camp
Sections A2 and C2 will meet
9:00–11:45
Client Interview; Citation—
Reporters
Client Letter Agreement &
Ethics; Citation—Court and
Date
Applying Law to Facts
Class 1B
Aug. 25
Class 2A
Aug. 29
Sept. 8
Class 4A
Sept. 12
Class 4B
Sept. 15
Class 5A
Sept. 19
Class 5B
Sept. 22
Class 6A
Sept. 26
Class 6B
Sept. 29
Class 7A*
Oct. 3
Class Preparation
Read Clary 19–30.
Read Clary 1–10, 81–95;
Packet Tabs 4–5. Skim
Packet Tab 6. Bring
Bluebook to class.
Explaining the Rule; Applying
Law to Facts
Research & Case Analysis
ICW Exercise 1
AAA Writing Exercise
Read Clary 97–102.
Read Packet Tab 11.
ICW Exercises 2 & 3
Client Letter
Agreement
ICW Exercises 4 & 5
Researching Legal Precedent
Editing; Researching Legal
Precedent
Researching Legal Precedent
Assignment(s) Due
Read Clary 143–51.
Read Packet Tab 16.
Capacity Writing
Exercise
Capacity Writing
Exercise Rewrites
Research Exercises
Class 7B
Oct. 6
Class 8A
Oct. 10
Class 8B
Oct. 13
Class 9A
Oct. 17
Class 9B
Oct. 20
Class 10A
Oct. 24
Class 10B
Oct. 27
Class 11A
Oct. 31
Class 11B
Nov. 3
Class 12A
Nov. 7
Class 12B
Nov. 10
Classes
13A & 13B
Nov. 14–18
More Research & Case
Analysis
More on
Analogous/Distinguishing
Arguments
Bloomberg training
Sections A2 and C2 will meet
10:30–11:30
The Predictive Memorandum:
Questions Presented, Brief
Answers, & Statement of Facts
Small-group Electronic
Research
Professionalism and Email
Communication; Legal Style
& Usage
ICW Exercise 6
ICW Exercise 7
Public Recognition
Writing Exercise
Read Clary 11-17,
151-55.
ICW Exercise 8
Read Clary 135–41;
Packet Tabs 17 and 19.
Large-Scale Organization
Read Packet Tab 15.
Organizational Schemes in
Legal Analysis
Statutory Analysis
Read Packet Tab 18.
Citation Review
Review ICW exercises.
Bring Bluebook to class.
ICW Exercise 16
Question
Presented/Brief
Answer Writing
Exercise
List of Sources
Read Clary 71-79.
Final Exam
Memo Conferences with senior
partner this week—no classes
Nov. 21
* You will also be required to attend Westlaw and Lexis training sessions this week:


Bloomberg Exercise
Westlaw: TBA
Lexis: TBA
Final Memo due
Monday, 11/21, at
10:00 a.m.