legal writing online course free

Great Lawyers Are

Great writers, our modules.

Want to boost your legal writing skills?

Want to find examples and exercises your students will love?

Need a just in time refresher on essential legal writing skills?

Need some tools to mentor new legal writers?

The Legal Writing Academy at the University of Ottawa offers our free, interactive modules for students, legal writing professors, lawyers, and mentors everywhere.

Where Would You Like to Start?

Legal Memos Made Easy

Learn to write a legal memo that will make you stand out

Edit Your Own Work

Learn an efficient 5-layered strategy

Point First Writing: Hit the Bull's Eye Every Time

(Work in Progress)

Fabulous Factums and Brilliant Briefs To Persuade Any Court

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Writing and Persuading Like a Lawyer Cornell Course

Course overview.

In law, as in many aspects of life, the ability to persuade is a key skill to success. In this course, you will discover that this is a skill you can develop. You will explore the universal and foundational principles of persuasion, principles used in law, in business, and in other areas.

You will examine how attorneys use persuasion in written documents to win a lawsuit involving a company they represent. You will also apply a formula designed to gauge the accuracy of the conclusion an attorney will ultimately attempt to prove is right. By the end of this course, you'll be able to identify the three modes of persuasion and recognize when they're being used in a legal argument, in business, and in other contexts.

Key Course Takeaways

• Explore universal persuasive principles
• Examine how lawyers create a persuasive document
• Reframe the legal paradigm for use in business

How It Works

Course author.

• Certificates Authored

Michelle Whelan is a Clinical Professor in the Lawyering Program at Cornell Law School. After graduating with honors from the University of Florida School of Law in 1990, Professor Whelan practiced commercial litigation at the Miami law firms of Greenberg Traurig and Steel, Hector & Davis.

During her 17-year career in private practice, Professor Whelan represented corporate clients in lawsuits involving shareholder disputes, breaches of contract, product liability, real estate disputes, defamation, and intellectual property. She was also actively involved in summer associate recruiting and hiring.

• Legal Writing and Communication

Who Should Enroll

• Business leaders
• Current and aspiring law students
• Law enforcement professionals
• Attorneys and judges
• Law firm consultants
• Public and nonprofit professionals
• Compliance and risk management professionals
• Anyone looking to work effectively with legal professionals

Stack To A Certificate

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Legal Writing in Plain English

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• (additional-viewer license: $2000 each)
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Professor Bryan A. Garner teaches all 50 sections of his classic text over 10 hour long sessions. In each session, you’ll work through exercises designed to sharpen your analytical and writing skills. You’ll learn the primary tools and techniques to make the most of your abilities. With Professor Garner’s tips and your dedication, you’ll find yourself succeeding at challenging writing projects and enjoying your work as never before.

Framing Your Thoughts (Part 1)

Divide and conquer: compose in an orderly, planned way. Learn to think efficiently and prepare yourself properly.

Phrasing Your Sentences (Part 2)

Improve your mastery of styling sentences. Engage your readers’ attention with shorter and more powerful statements.

Choosing Your Words (Part 3)

Enhance your command of English vocabulary, particularly legal vocabulary. Discover how “impressive” words and phrases can bog down your writing—and learn the expressions you should use.

Structuring Your Analytical and Persuasive Writing (Part 4)

Use the elements of rhetorical discourse to your advantage. Learn how to take advantage of the most important part of any presentation: the opener.

Some Keys to Good Expository Prose (Part 5)

Perfect the techniques of persuasive exposition. Consider how you sound; learn why a relaxed, conversational tone works in your professional writing. Guide your readers deftly through narrative and argument.

Legal Drafting (part A) (Part 6)

Adopt the optimal approach to contractual and statutory drafting. Understand your audience, your purposes, and the common pitfalls of archaic conventions.

Legal Drafting (part B) (Part 7)

Refine your contractual and statutory drafting. Make the language plain and the meaning clear. Avoid introducing words and phrases that could create litigation.

Document Design (Part 8)

Acquire enough knowledge about typography to produce readable documents. Learn the elements that make a document approachable and attractive—or the opposite.

Editing Yourself and Others (Part 9)

Become proficient in large-scale revisions and copyediting. Learn to critique others’ writing constructively and to gain objectivity in reviewing your own.

The Finer Points of Style (Part 10)

Maintain a clear-headed approach to writing and editing. Learn how and why effective communication takes practice and attention.

Seminar Specifications

Seminar length.

Ten separate seminar parts:

• Part 1: 60 minutes
• Part 2: 60 minutes
• Part 3: 60 minutes
• Part 4: 60 minutes
• Part 5: 60 minutes
• Part 6: 60 minutes
• Part 7: 60 minutes
• Part 8: 60 minutes
• Part 9: 60 minutes
• Part 10: 60 minutes

Total ten-part series length: 600 minutes (10 hours)

License Window

Production date.

August 30, 2017; Full review: November 30, 2020

Live, interactive function

Call or email us with questions at LawProse 214-691-8588 [email protected]

Seminar Format

Print out course materials PDF. Begin the seminar video.

Seminar Content Tree (seminar module)

Each part is a separate seminar module.

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 1 Framing Your Thoughts

• Course Materials (Student’s Manual PDF)
• Teacher’s Manual (PDF)

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 2 Phrasing Your Sentences

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 3 Choosing Your Words

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 4 Structuring Your Analytical and Persuasive Writing

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 5 Some Keys to Good Expository Prose

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 6 Legal Drafting (part A)

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 7 Legal Drafting (part B)

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 8 Document Design

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 9 Editing Yourself and Others

Legal Writing in Plain English: Part 10 The Finer Points of Style

CLE State Approvals

California:

Please send your California Bar number, seminar-completion date, seminar name, and code word to [email protected] to receive a California CLE Certificate from LawProse.

Please send your Texas Bar number, seminar-completion date, seminar name, and code word to [email protected] . LawProse will report your CLE credit directly to the Texas Bar.

LawProse Policy on CLE Credit

Please check with your state bar to see whether web seminars qualify.

We are accredited CLE providers for online training in California and Texas.

Texas credit: Email your name, Texas Bar number, seminar name, and the date of completion to  [email protected] . We’ll report your credit within the next five days.

California certificate: Email your name, California Bar number, seminar name, and the date of completion to  [email protected] . We’ll send you a California CLE Certificate for your self-reporting records within the next five days.

If you’re seeking credit elsewhere, please take the certificate of attendance from the program to use as part of your application for credit to your state bar. Please check with your state bar to see whether web seminars qualify.

Want more focused training on specific legal-writing skills? Professor Bryan A. Garner has created over 40 hours here for you. Learn the skills of legal writing and take the mystery out of the art.

Discounts & Watching as a Group

Discounts are available as additional-viewer licenses. These are for groups simultaneously viewing a self-paced online seminar using one computer connection. When one participant pays the full list price, each additional viewer pays for an additional-viewer license—again, if all registrants view on one screen together. You can register your group by calling LawProse at  214-691-8588  or emailing  [email protected]  or directly on our e-learning site.

Please note that the list price is for the purchase of a primary-viewer license (an individual license for a single viewing by a single viewer). You may purchase additional additional-viewer licenses that are priced at a discounted tuition rate on our e-learning site or contacting us at  214-691-8588 . We ask for your cooperation in protecting our intellectual-property rights. We’re happy to help direct you to any particular course topic you’re looking for, to discuss group pricing, and to answer any other questions you may have.

Please see our  FAQs on Self-Paced Online Seminars .

Related Self-Paced Online Seminars FAQs

• How can I get an estimate for my group?
• How do I know what kind of license I’ll need?
• How long do I have to watch the seminar?
• When does my license begin?

Related Courses

Better Brief–Writing

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Online Legal Writing Center

WRITING TOOLS:

This website will help you to avoid errors and to achieve excellence in legal writing. This site has resources about legal writing style, sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. In addition to the information within the website, other basic writing resources can be found in the Chart of Additional Resources for Writing Skills and on CALI ( Punctuation and Grammar Basics for Students and Punctuation and Grammar: Advanced ).

USE OF AUTHORITY AND ATTRIBUTION:

This website provides resources about using authority effectively, providing proper attribution to authority, and avoiding plagiarism.

BLUEBOOK RESOURCES: 

This link provides you with two Bluebook Guides to help you with basic Bluebook rules: (1) a guide for practitioners and law clerks, and (2) a guide for journals and law reviews. For more detailed rules, reference the Bluebook, 20th edition.

RESOURCES FOR WRITING SEMINAR PAPERS AND JOURNAL ARTICLES:

This website provides a list of resources to assist you with writing a paper for a seminar course or with writing scholarly articles. The resources have helpful advice relevant to all stages of a scholarly paper’s writing process, including: thesis selection; the research, outlining, and drafting stages; time management tips; and the editing and polishing stage.

RESOURCES FOR DRAFTING JUDICIAL OPINIONS: 

A website to assist you with drafting judicial opinions. The resources provide pertinent information about drafting opinions, including the organization, content, and structure of an opinion as well as other substantive and practical tips for writing a court opinion.

ENGLISH-AS-A-SECOND LANGUAGE RESOURCES: 

For ESL students, this website provides a list of resources that would be useful for legal writing.

RESOURCES FOR CONTRACT DRAFTING:

The website provides list of resources to assist you with drafting contracts. The resources have helpful tips and considerations for drafting effective contracts.

RESOURCES FOR LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING:

This link provides a list of resources to assist you with drafting and writing legislation. The resources include textbooks that provide instruction on the legislative writing process.

RESOURCES FOR LAW SCHOOL EXAM WRITING​

This website includes resources to help you with law school exams. Specifically, the resources are useful to learn how to write effective essay exam answers.

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Advanced Legal Writing for American Practice

Past offerings, 2023-2024 winter, useful links.

• Course Evaluations
• Approved Non-Law Courses

Advanced Legal Writing for American Practice (7827): This course orients advanced degree students to a range of legal writing genres used by lawyers in practice in American law offices and before American courts. At the core of these genres are the techniques of legal research, objective and persuasive legal writing, and related legal analysis in a litigation context. The course presents students with realistic legal writing scenarios that they address in and out of class. Students perform legal research and analysis as they complete assignments designed to incorporate methods that American lawyers use to analyze typical legal problems while advocating on behalf of a hypothetical client in a litigation matter. This class is limited to Advanced Degree Students. Elements used in grading: Class Participation, Attendance, Written Assignments.

Advanced Legal Writing for American Practice | LAW 7827 Section 01 Class #1040

• Grading: Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
• 2023-2024 Winter Schedule No Longer Available
• Enrollment Limitations: Lottery 16
• PW-Professional Writing Requirement for Law Degree
• LO1 - Substantive and Procedural Law
• LO2 - Legal Analysis and Reasoning
• LO3 - Ability to Conduct Legal Research
• LO4 - Ability to Communicate Effectively in Writing
• LO7 - Professional Skills
• Miscellaneous Practice-Skills

2022-2023 Winter

Advanced legal writing for american practice | law 7827 section 01 class #1065.

• 2022-2023 Winter Schedule No Longer Available

2021-2022 Winter

Advanced legal writing for american practice | law 7827 section 01 class #1175.

• 2021-2022 Winter Schedule No Longer Available

• LEGAL DRAFTING SERVICES

Legal Writing for Law Students

Expert legal drafting services: drafting legal documents that give you the winning edge.

At Indian Society of Legal Writers (ISLW), we understand that victory often lies in the details when it comes to legal drafting. Which is why top lawyers and law firms rely on our expertise to create watertight legal documents.

With over a decade of experience, our team assists with drafting and fine-tuning a wide range of documents like petitions, motions, contracts, and notices tailored to your exact legal situation.

Whether you need an airtight business agreement drafted from scratch or a persuasive appellate brief to overturn a judgment, we have you covered. Our mastery of precedents and legal research abilities allow us to make compelling arguments in your favour.

For high-stakes litigation, our insight helps with trial preparation – from incisive cross-examinations to winning written and oral submissions. We work seamlessly with lawyers to augment their capabilities, not override their strategy.

At Indian Society of Legal Writers (ISLW), we park our egos at the door. Our sole focus is using our legal drafting expertise to tip the scales in your favour. When winning matters, rely on us for specialised legal drafting services .

Get in touch with our round-the-clock assistance for a free consultation today.

JOIN PLAIN ENGLISH LEGAL WRITING FOR LAW STUDENTS COURSE

Now you can join the course to learn and improve your legal writing skills with practical exercises on the e-learning platform. The program has 6 modules and 25 lessons on the important principles of plain English legal writing. You can access the Course materials for the full year. We will continue to update the course content regularly with audio/video lectures, PowerPoint presentations, articles, and assignments.

Legal Writing Module 1: Introduction

Your Right to Clear Writing Meaning and Concept of Legal Writing Types of Legal Writing — Legal Notices, Petitions, Applications, Letters, Legal Articles Plain English Writing vs. Legal Writing Essentials of Good Legal Writing Legal Writing as a Four Step Process

Legal Writing Module 2: General Principles

Omit Needless Words Avoid Hidden Words Use Base Verbs Write Short Sentences Arrange your words with care Use Concrete and Familiar Words Avoid Language Quirks Self-Practice

Legal Writing Module 3: Active vs. Passive

The Battle between Active and Passive Use Active Voice to Communicate Better Use Passive Voice to Avoid Direct Confrontation Self-Practice

Legal Writing Module 4: Grammar

Introduction Common Grammatical Mistakes Common Spelling Mistakes Use Contractions for Conversational Tone Absence of subject-verb agreement Run-on sentences Dangling modifiers Self-Practice

Legal Writing Module 5: Legal Jargons

No to legalese Avoid Jargon Cliches are out-dated Use Simple Words Self-Practice

Legal Writing Module 6: Persuasive Writing

Three Components for Persuasive Argument The Power of Three – Use Parallel Phrasing Aristotle's Rules For Argumentation Cicero's 5-Step Formula For Effective Writing Use Sound Logical Reasoning Self-Practice

COURSE FEES

• Live, Instructor-led Course : Rs.11,499/- (1 month program, Sat & Sun, Batch 1: 10am – 12pm & Batch 2: 6 – 8pm)

THE ONLY LEGAL WRITING COURSE BY EXPERT CROSS-EXAMINER ON DIGITAL EVIDENCE & CYBER LAW.

Our classes and activities are self-paced and voluntary, you may choose to be an active participant or a fence sitter. But, do your best to learn the art of legal writing for professional success. We score you on every activity to get you a reward. Outstanding performance by the Students will be posted on our social media walls such as FB, Instagram, and websites.

Join our Indian Legal Writers Telegram Group

Certificate of Course Completion will be provided by  India Justice Foundation , a legal NGO.

LEGAL WRITING WORKSHOP FILES

“Legal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.” – Wikipedia

A lawyer’s competence is at times judged based on his ability to write persuasive, clear and accurate documents. This online free course is intended for students wishing to improve their ability to write sharp, clear prose, to edit their own and others’ writing, and to become more proficient and efficient at composing and organizing written documents.

Learning Objectives

• Contract drafting
• Document drafting
• Research methods
• Analytical reasoning
• Structured writing
• Issues of style and syntax
• Legal referencing, citations and quotations (including plagiarism awareness)
• Writing of a research proposal
• Structure, style, layout and content
• Analyzing and conceptualizing legal issues.
• Organizing strategies (outlining, decision trees, cluster diagrams).
• Structuring legal arguments and documents (macro & microstructure).
• Using core writing techniques, including clarity, cohesion, concision, and Plain English concerns.
• Writing strong introductions and conclusions.
• Mastering objective v. persuasive techniques.
• Using new editing techniques.
• Sharpening efficient writing and editing skills using timed assignments.
• Improving oral skills presenting legal analysis to clients and senior lawyers.
• Inter-active writing exercises
• Find, interpret and use various types of legal authorities
• Using legal authorities
• Write a legal analysis
• Draft a Memorandum of Law
• Write a brief case opinion
• Engage in various forms of legal writing
• Grammar exercises
• Legal vocabulary
• Legal glossary

Learn the history and foundation of legal writing. 2. Develop a clear and effective writing style; learn to use logic in developing written legal arguments; analyze judicial opinions and fact situations. 3. Practice writing client correspondence, complaints, motions, memoranda of points and authorities, intraoffice memoranda, and other legal documents

Features of Legal Writing

Categories of legal writing.

• Predictive legal analysis
• Persuasive legal analysis
• Legal drafting
• Legal Writing in academia

William Safire’s Rules For Writers

• Remember to never split an infinitive.
• The passive voice should never be used.
• Do not put statements in the negative form.
• Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
• Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
• If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
• A writer must not shift your point of view.
• And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
• Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!
• Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
• Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
• If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
• Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
• Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
• Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
• Always pick on the correct idiom.
• The adverb always follows the verb.
• Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

Courtesy:  http: //giveit2meinwriting.blogspot.in

Reference Books

• the ALWD Citation Manual: A Professional System of Citation
• The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation
• Beyond the Basics: A Text for Advanced Legal Writing – Ray & Cox
• Manual on Usage & Style – Texas Law Review
• The Elements of Legal Style
• The Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style
• Charrow, Erhardt & Charrow, Clear and Effective Legal Writing, Aspen 4th edition
• Legal Research and Bibliography
• Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss (2003)
• Fowler’s Modern English Usage
• The Elements of Style, Strunk and White
• Thinking on Paper, V.A. Howard and J.H. Barton (1986)
• Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing, 2nd edition, by William H. Putman
• Legal Research and Writing Across the Curriculum: Problems and Exercises, by Michael D. Murray and Christy H. DeSanctis
• Oran’s Dictionary of the Law, 4th Edition
• Linda H. Edwards, Legal Writing: Process, Analysis, and Organization (5th ed. 2010)
• Michael D. Murray & Christy H. DeSanctis, Legal Research Methods (2010)
• Garner, Legal Writing in Plain English – A Text with Exercises (University of Chicago Press: 2001)
• Kwaw, The Guide to Legal Analysis, Legal Methodology and Legal Writing (Cavendish 1992)
• Oates, et al., The Legal Writing Handbook – Research, Analysis and Writing (Little Brown and Company Ltd: 1993)
• Smith, Legal Research and Writing (Patrick Stephens Limited, 2001)
• MLegal Reasoning and Writing for International Graduate Students 2d Edition by Nadia E.Nedzel (Nedzel)

Legal Writing Helps

• The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing
• Florida Supreme Court Arguments
• The Legal Writing Teaching Assistant

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