Legal Writing for the Undergraduate, Second Edition

Buy a new version of this textbook and receive access to the Connected eBook on Casebook Connect, including lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities. Access also includes an outline tool and other helpful resources. Connected eBooks provide what you need most to be successful in your law school classes.

Legal Writing for the Undergraduate by Antonio C. Elefano offers a practical introduction to legal analysis and legal writing, designed to give even the most novice student a command of legal writing basics. With careful guidance and scaffolding, the author effectively teaches students how to read and analyze cases and how to formulate persuasive legal arguments.

The book begins with a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Legal System, including how to analyze a law and apply it to varying situations. The text continues with the fundamentals of legal writing, offering in-depth, step-by-step instruction on writing different types of legal memoranda and appellate briefs. Through effective assignments and engaging discussion, students will learn how to craft thoughtful and polished arguments.

New to the Second Edition:

• An expanded, step-by-step guide to crafting an oral argument.
• A new three-case substantive due process memorandum assignment.
• A new five-case First Amendment memorandum assignment.

Professors and students will benefit from:

• A streamlined and accessible introduction to legal reasoning.
• Class-tested assignments utilizing several closed universes of cases, allowing focus on the application of law.
• Instruction on how to read and brief a case.
• Separate chapters on the fundamentals of legal writing, basic legal research and appellate briefs.
• Thoughtful guidance on the structure and strategy of appellate-style oral argumentation.
• Helpful chapter on how to workshop legal writing.
• Engaging presentation that demystifies legal analysis.
• Practical advice on how to get into law school.