Legal Writing in Context by Bonneau, Sonya G. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Acknowledgments Prologue U NIT 1 · Law and Legal Reasoning Chapter 1 · Sources of Law A. Hierarchy of Legal Authorities

1. Constitutions 2. Statutes 3. Regulations 4. Judicial Opinions

B. Hierarchy of Courts

1. U.S. Supreme Court 2. U.S. Courts of Appeals 3. U.S. District Courts

C. State and Federal Systems D. Choosing among Persuasive Authorities E. Secondary Sources Chapter 2 · Procedure Overview A. Civil Trial

1. Motion to Dismiss 2. Motion for Summary Judgment 3. Trial & Verdict

B. Appeal

1. Standards of Review

Chapter 3 · The Role of Facts A. Gathering Facts

1. Client Interview 2. Discovery

B. Selecting and Communicating Facts in Writing Chapter 4 · Legal Rules A. Introduction to Rules

1. Sources of Rules 2. Types of Rules 3. Bright Lines and Flexibility

B. Statutory Interpretation: Language and Meaning

1. Plain and Not Plain Meaning 2. Theories of Statutory Interpretation 3. Tools of Statutory Interpretation

Initial Steps: Binding Sources a. Intrinsic Sources—Statutory Definitions and Related Provisions b. Extrinsic Sources Other Tools

C. Rules in Precedents

1. Court-Made Rules 2. Synthesizing a Rule from Precedents

Chapter 5 · Deductive Reasoning A. The Deductive Paradigm B. Using Deductive Reasoning

1. Putting Together a Syllogism

C. Deductive Reasoning in Context Chapter 6 · Analogical Reasoning A. The Judgment of Importance

1. Procedural Posture 2. Legal Rule 3. Policy

B. Crafting Analogies and Distinctions

1. Analogies 2. Distinctions

U NIT 2 · C OMMUNICATING L EGAL R EASONING Chapter 7 · Organizing Legal Reasoning A. Large-Scale Organization

1. Multiple Issues 2. Components of Each Issue

B. Small-Scale Organization Chapter 8 · Legal Documents A. Objective Writing: Memos

1. Introduction: Question Presented/Brief Answer 2. Background: Statement of Facts

a. Legally Relevant Facts b. Cohesive Narrative

3. Analysis: Discussion 4. Conclusion

B. Persuasive Writing: Briefs

1. Legal Themes 2. Sections of a Brief

a. Introduction: Question Presented, or Statement of the Issue Presented for Review b. Background: Statement of the Case c. Summary of the Argument d. Argument e. Conclusion

Index