Online · School of Law · School of Law

Legal Writing

PLST-202

Spring B 2022 Section B01 01/10/2022 to 03/04/2022 Modified 12/30/2021  Contact Information

See detailed faculty information in Canvas.  Course Description

This course will introduce students to proper legal writing methods. The goal of legal writing is communication with the reader. During this course, students will learn legal writing techniques that will enable them to communicate effectively.

Requisites Prerequisite

PLST 201

 Rationale

In this course the student will continue developing his/her legal research and writing skills. This course builds upon the legal research skills developed in PLST 201 by introducing the student to proper legal writing methods. The goal of legal writing is effective communication with the reader. During this course, the student will learn legal writing techniques that will enable he/she to communicate effectively.

 Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A. Analyze case, statute, and constitutional provisions.

B. Draft a memorandum of law explaining research results.

C. Draft a letter to clients.

D. Demonstrate legal writing skills.

E. Demonstrate proper legal citation style.

F. Analyze all of the preceding in light of a distinctly evangelical Christian worldview.

 Course Resources

Required Resource

The resource below is provided in the course at no cost to the student. However, if the student prefers a physical copy of the resource, he or she may purchase it through the Liberty University Online bookstore (http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm), MBS Direct. The purchase of physical copies is optional.

William H. Putnam and Jennifer R. Alright. Legal Research, Analysis, & Writing (4th ed. 2018).

Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.

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Additional Materials for Learning

A. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment

B. Internet access (broadband recommended)

C. Canvas recommended browsers (https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Basics-Guide/What-are-the-browser-and-

computer-requirements-for-Canvas/ta-p/66)

D. Microsoft Word

E. Bluebook Writing Guide: https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/bluebook-resources/

(https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/bluebook-resources/)

 Course Assignments

  Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be 300–500 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge, and include at least 3 scholarly, academic sources. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150–250 words and include at least 2 scholarly, academic sources.

Objective Memo Assignments (4)

A principal document that is often used internally and, at times, transformed into a letter, brief, or otherwise altered for use with third parties, is the Objective Memo. You will draft 1 of these documents for a large portion of your grade in this course. There are 4 parts to this assignment.

Outline Assignment

The first step in the writing process is to create an outline of what will be covered in the memo.

Rule Explanation Assignment

The second step in the writing process is to draft the building blocks of the legal argument.

Rough Draft Assignment

For this part, you will complete a rough draft of the actual Memorandum of Law. Formatting, research, writing, etc. should be as close as possible to what you envision for the final draft.

Final Draft Assignment

Create the Final Draft of your Memorandum of Law assignment by incorporating your instructor’s feedback on the Rough Draft.

Quizzes (5)

Each quiz will cover the Learn items for the assigned module: week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple- choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit.

Quiz: The Bluebook

The student will complete a quiz covering the Bluebook. The exercise will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice, true/false, matching, or fill-in the blank questions, and have a 1-hour time limit.

Client Letter Assignment

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The student will draft a 1-page professional letter to a client explaining the decision of the law firm.  Course Grading

10

Discussions (3 at 75 pts ea) 225

250

Objective Memo: Outline Assignment 50

Objective Memo: Rough Draft Assignment 100

175

Quiz: The Bluebook 50

100

Total 1010

 Policies

Course Requirements Checklist

Quizzes (5 at 50 pts ea)

Objective Memo: Rule Explanation Assignment

50

Objective Memo: Final Draft Assignment

Client Letter Assignment

Late Assignment Policy

Course Assignments, including discussions, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email. Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.

2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.

3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special

circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by

the instructor.

4. Group projects, including group discussion threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date

outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Disability Assistance

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu for accommodations. Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition. For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation- support/ (https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/). Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

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If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at equityandcompliance@liberty.edu. Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy (https://wiki.os.liberty.edu/display/IE/Liberty+University+Discrimination,+Harassment,+and+Sexual+Misconduct+Policy) or

the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures (https://www.liberty.edu/disability-support/wp- content/uploads/sites/106/2022/01/Disability-Grievance-Procedures.pdf).

Course Attendance

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/? url=https%3A%2F%2Fwiki.os.liberty.edu%2Fdisplay%2FIE%2FOnline%2BAttendance%2Band%2BNon- Attendance&data=02%7C01%7Caccollins2%40liberty.edu%7Cd91431fa6ac547056b5408d833029e1a%7Cbaf8218eb3024465a99 34a39c97251b2%7C0%7C0%7C637315433613719138&sdata=%2BNBTsPOoXuHAPLflSQRugK7cRSuV6UyC7qD3agf3l2k%3D&res erved=0) can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/? url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liberty.edu%2Findex.cfm%3FPID%3D791&data=02%7C01%7Caccollins2%40liberty.edu%7Cd91431fa6 ac547056b5408d833029e1a%7Cbaf8218eb3024465a9934a39c97251b2%7C0%7C0%7C637315433613729132&sdata=DjjhMiRB nF%2B2ZJUC8eBd1OdNb26S9ADukODYsilXlA%3D&reserved=0). Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion post, or other academic

activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/? url=https%3A%2F%2Fwiki.os.liberty.edu%2Fdisplay%2FIE%2FUnofficial%2BWithdrawals&data=02%7C01%7Caccollins2%40liberty .edu%7Cd91431fa6ac547056b5408d833029e1a%7Cbaf8218eb3024465a9934a39c97251b2%7C0%7C0%7C63731543361372913 2&sdata=MoMvZdPfza69InuhVHMHAVgu59ZP0Fw45xJTu9PIBrU%3D&reserved=0)). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

Grading Scale

ABCDF

900-1010 800-899 700-799 600-699 0-599

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

Add/Drop Policy

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory

(https://wiki.os.liberty.edu/display/IE/Dropping+and+Adding+Online+Classes). Honor Code

Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

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While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.liberty.edu/students/community-life/graduate-and-online- students/ (https://www.liberty.edu/students/community-life/graduate-and-online-students/).

 Schedule

   When Topic

Technology Integration Set-Up

Apply

Notes

Prepare: Cengage MindTap

Quiz: Getting Back to Basics

   Course Overview Student Acknowledgements Course Requirements Checklist

        Module 1: Week 1

Learn

Read: 7 items Watch: 2 items Interact: 2 items

         Module 2: Week 2

Learn

Read: 9 items Watch: 1 item Interact: 2 items

   Apply

Discussion: Effective Communication Quiz: Effective Communication

  Module 3: Week 3

Learn

Read: 6 items Watch: 1 item

     Apply

Objective Memo: Outline Assignment

Objective Memo: Rule Explanation Assignment

Quiz: Office Legal Memorandum: Analysis to Conclusion

    Module 4: Week 4

Learn

Read: 2 items Watch: 1 item

 Apply

Discussion: The Bluebook Quiz: The Bluebook

     Module 5: Week 5

Learn

Apply

Objective Memo: Rough Draft Assignment

Read: 1 item Watch: 1 item Review: 1 item

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 When Topic Notes

    Module 6: Week 6

Learn

Read: 3 items Watch: 1 item Interact: 1 item

 Apply

Discussion: Persuasive Thread

Quiz: External Memoranda: Court Briefs

      Module 7: Week 7

Learn

Read: 3 items Watch: 1 item Interact: 1 item

 Apply

Objective Memo: Final Draft Assignment Quiz: Fundamentals of Writing

     Module 8: Week 8

Learn

Apply Client Letter Assignment

Read: 3 items Watch: 2 items Interact: 1 item

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