Podcast Episode 11: Legal Writing 101

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we are talking about Legal Writing.

What is it about the term Legal Writing that makes law students cringe? If you are a first-year law student, you’re most likely enrolled in a Legal Research and Writing Class (LRW). This is a class that can strike fear into the heart of some law students. Others approach it with an “I got this” attitude only to be shocked when they realize they actually don’t. The same writing skills that scored you a spot in law school do not always transfer when it comes to legal writing. It’s just another class – what is everyone so afraid of?

1. You have to get comfortable with writing in a different way.
2. The exams and papers can be incredibly time-consuming and challenging.
3. It’s hard to “unlearn” a style of writing you became comfortable with in your prior education.

In this episode we talk about:

• What makes legal writing so difficult?
• The different types of legal writing
• How your academic background can affect your success in your legal writing class
• Improving your legal writing skills
• How to handle legal writing if English isn’t your first language
• Tools and tricks to stay organized
• Why legal writing is important to your future career (and passing the bar exam)

Listen Now

To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

Resources:

• Trello – Our favorite organizational tool!!!
• Be Ready to Throw Your Writing Style Out the Window 
• It is Important to Be Realistic About Assignments
• Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You’re Talking to Your Grandmother 

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Thanks for listening!