Spring 2014
5397 Written Advocacy - HOFFMANL- 23720

Professor(s): Lonny Hoffman (FACULTY)

Credits: 3

Course Areas: Procedure and Practice 

Time: 6:00p-7:30p  MWLocation:  

Course Outline: This three credit hour course, which does not satisfy the UHLC writing requirement, is an advanced course of study in written advocacy for litigators. It is intended for students who wish to improve their persuasive writing skills, especially for civil litigation practice.

Here is how the class works. In our first class meeting, the instructor will lead a discussion about basic strategies for approaching a problem that calls for a written answer/analysis. Students then have a few weeks to work up a first draft. At least once during these first few weeks, students will meet with the instructor about their first drafts. Once the drafts are completed, they will be exchanged in advance of the next class. In the next class, students and the instructor provide feedback on the initial work. The immediate goals of this first exercise are (i) dissection of good approaches to answering and analyzing the problem; (ii) comparative study of student work; and (iii) developing suggestions and a strategy plan for further refinement. Second drafts will then be due, following this same format with further feedback, along similar lines, at a more advanced stage of development.

There is no casebook for the course. The instructor will distribute a packet of reading material. There is no final examination. Students will be evaluated primarily on their written work; in-class participation may also be taken into account. At most, class participation could increase a student’s final grade by one-third of a letter grade. It is possible (though rare) for a student’s grade to be reduced for failure to participate.

Attendance is required both for regular class meetings and the separate meetings that will be scheduled with the instructor to discuss drafts of the student’s work. The instructor may lower a final grade and/or take any other appropriate disciplinary action necessary if the student is absent from more than 20% of the scheduled classes and instructor meetings.

Course Syllabus:

Course Notes:   Quota= 10 - No book required.

Prerequisites:  

First Day Assignments:

Final Exam Schedule:    

This course will have:
Exam:
Paper:

Satisfies Skills Course Requirement: No
Satisfies Senior Writing Requirement: No