Writing for Litigation, Third Edition

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Writing for Litigation, Third Edition, systematically addresses how audience, purpose, strategy, and ethics inform the shape, content, and tone of the full range of litigation documents. Kamela Bridges and Wayne Schiess explain how to draft litigation documents like a lawyer. And because litigation practice can’t be boiled down to a few forms, the authors provide drafting instruction for the full range of documents used in litigation practice —from client engagement letter to motions, discovery, affidavits, and jury instructions. Writing for Litigation, Third Edition is one of those indispensable books that students will refer to again and again, in law school and practice.

New to the Third Edition

• New Chapter 14 consolidates coverage of legal writing process and style, emphasizing accessibility, readability, organization, and the principles of persuasion 
• Discussion of the advantages and risks of using generative artificial intelligence in writing litigation documents
• Guidance for recognizing and avoid bias and assumptions in their legal writing
• Tips for researching facts and law in litigation practice
• An updated fact scenario for writing assignments

Professors and students will benefit from

• Broad coverage of both common documents such as pleadings, discovery requests, and motions, and ancillary documents such as demand letters, client communications, and affidavits
• Practical tips and advice on strategic legal drafting, writing unambiguously, and complying with ethical obligations
• Clear guidance to the component parts of each type of document
• A complete set of sample documents in the Appendices

This text addresses each component of a wide range of litigation documents—from the caption to the certificate of service—so students won’t have to ask that question after they graduate from law school. It also addresses day-to-day writing tasks, such as e-mails to clients and opposing counsel. A chapter on writing principles addresses writing process, accessibility, readability, organization, and persuasion. Samples of each type of document, all relating to the same case, allow readers to see how different forms of legal writing and the various types of legal documents relate to each stage of the litigation process, from beginning to end.