Maricopa Community Colleges  LAS225   19976-20026 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 04/22/97
LAS225 19976-20026 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Legal Research and Writing
Introduction to the process of legal writing. Development of legal writing skills. Experience with different types of legal writing. Prerequisites: ENG101, LAS110 or TCA101, and LAS211, or permission of department chair or program director/coordinator.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LAS225   19976-20026 Legal Research and Writing
1. Brief cases for use in legal writing. (I)
2. Identify the different audiences and purposes of various types of legal documents. (II)
3. Identify the different styles and formats of various types of legal documents. (II)
4. Identify and analyze ethical issues involved in legal writing. (II)
5. Apply mechanics of writing. (III)
6. Use appropriate and effective language, logic, and structure in samples of legal writing. (IV)
7. Prepare a legal memorandum, legal correspondence, a basic pleading, a basic motion, and a basic operative document (for example, a contract, will, or lease). (V)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LAS225   19976-20026 Legal Research and Writing
    I. The Case Brief
        A. Components of a judicial opinion
        B. Components of a case brief
        C. The case brief as a note-taking method
      II. Introduction to Legal Writing
          A. Identifying the audience and purpose in legal writing
          B. Identifying the styles and formats of legal documents
          C. Identifying and analyzing ethical issues in legal writing
        III. Mechanics of Writing
            A. Punctuation
            B. Sentence construction
            C. Paragraphing
          IV. Effective and Persuasive Legal Writing
              A. Choice and use of language
              B. Common pitfalls in legal writing
              C. Effective advocacy in legal writing
              D. Logical development and organization of legal writing
            V. Legal Writing
                A. Office memorandum
                B. Legal correspondence
                C. Basic pleadings D Basic motions
                E. Basic document drafting
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