LAWYERING SKILLS AND STRATEGIES I
[DRAFT] SYLLABUS—FALL 2016
CLASS PERIOD
CLASS TOPIC
CLASS READINGS
ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Class 1A
August 22
The U.S. Legal System
Coughlin pp. 15-31
Sloan pp. 9-17
CGL Lessons A. and B.
Class 1B
August 25
Legal Authority
None
Weight of Authority Exercise
Class 2A
August 29
Identifying Issues
LSS Handout #1
Issue Spotting Exercise
Class 2B
September 1
Interviewing Clients
LSS Handout #2
Client Interview Exercise
Labor Day Holiday.
LSS Class will not meet today.
September 5
Class 3B
September 8
Introduction to Legal Research
Sloan pp. 3-7, 21-58
None
Class 4A
September 12
Introduction to Legal Research
(Electronic Research Services)
Sloan pp. 18-19, 87-96
LSS Handout #3
CGL Lessons C. and D.
Class 4B
September 15
Introduction to Legal Research
(Secondary Sources and Statutes)
Sloan pp. 61-74, 97-105
Research Plan Exercise I
(Descriptive Terms Search)
Class 4C *
September 16
Introduction to Legal Research
(Cases)
Sloan pp. 75-86
Research Plan Exercise II
(Terms and Connectors Search)
Class 5A
September 19
Reading and Understanding Cases
Coughlin pp. 33-35, 43-56
LSS Handout #4
Case Brief
Class 5B
September 22
Deriving and Understanding Rules of
Law
Coughlin pp. 57-66, 89-96
Rule Synthesis Exercise
Class 6A
September 26
Introduction to Legal Analysis I
(Statutory Law)
Coughlin pp. 35-43, 173-178, 181197
Statutory Interpretation Exercise
Class 6B
September 29
Introduction to Legal Analysis II
(Case Law)
Coughlin pp. 67-79, 129-149, 178179
Case Law Analysis Chart
Class 7A
October 3
Communicating Your Analysis in Writing
(The “CR[e]” of CR[e]AC)
Coughlin pp. 10-13, 81-88, 97100, 167-172
CGL Lessons E. and F.
*
Section B1 will meet on Friday, September 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Room TBD.
Class 7B
October 6
Communicating Your Analysis in Writing
(The “AC” of CR[e]AC)
Coughlin pp. 101-120, 151-165,
179-180
Writing Exercise I
(The “CR[e]”)
Class 8A
October 10
Introduction to Legal Citation
Bluebook pp. 1-2
ICW pp. vii-xiv and ICW Ch. 15
Writing Exercise II
(The “AC”)
Class 8B
October 13
Introduction to Legal Citation
(Cases)
ICW Ch. 1-5
ICW Online Exercise 15
Class 9A
October 17
Introduction to Legal Citation
(Secondary Sources and Statutes)
ICW Ch. 6-8, 11
ICW Online Exercises 1-5
Class 9B
October 20
Writing Professional Letters and Emails
Coughlin pp. 273-293
ICW Ch. 9
ICW Online Exercises 6-8, 11
Class 10A
October 24
Writing Professional Letters and Emails
Coughlin pp. 9-10, 295-304
LSS Handout #5
Writing Exercise III
(Revised “CR[e]AC”)
October 25
The Legal Citation Exam will be administered at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, in Room TBD.
Class 10B
October 27
The Predictive Memorandum
(Question Presented and Brief Answer)
Coughlin pp. 3-9, 217-232
None
Class 11A
October 31
The Predictive Memorandum
(Statement of Facts)
Coughlin pp. 233-241
None
Class 11B
November 3
The Predictive Memorandum
(Discussion and Conclusion)
Coughlin pp. 193-215, 243-245
None
Class 12A
November 7
Editing
(Rewriting, Revising, and Polishing)
Coughlin pp. 247-271
None
November 8
Class 12B
November 10
The Graded Email is due by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 8, in the LSS Office.
The Ethical Use of Sources
November 14November 18
Class 13A
November 14
November 22
Coughlin pp. 121-128
None
Individual Conferences will be held.
Professionalism in School and Practice
None
None
The Graded Predictive Memorandum is due by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22, in the LSS Office.
*** The syllabus may be modified as needed to achieve course objectives. ***