Foundations of Legal Research and Writing

This text presents a unique approach to legal research and writing by giving equal weight to both areas. This up-to-date and classroom tested book includes outstanding chapters on research, including a chapter with detailed explanations of legal reasoning and analysis and another on computer-assisted legal research. The research chapters end with legal assignments, and cyber law exercises are included at the end of most chapters, which require students to perform computer-assisted legal research. The writing portion of the text devotes entire chapters to writing client opinion letters, pleadings, contracts, office memos, memoranda of law, and appellate briefs. Sample documents are provided containing heavily footnoted tips, that are designed to provide students with as much help as possible in their writing. The text contains case excerpts, illustrating material introduced in the text and emphasizing the perils of performing inadequate legal research and writing poorly. Reader-friendly in tone, the many examples included will appeal to students and instructors alike.