Legal Writing Texts - General
The Complete Legal Writer, 2d ed. by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Reference Area KF250 .C46 2020Publication Date: 2020Print.
"uses genre discovery to teach students to guide themselves through the process of writing unfamiliar legal document types. . . . also teaches research and citation literacy as integrated parts of the writing process. For each legal genre covered in the book (e.g., memo, trial brief), . . . provides (1) three strong samples, (2) an analysis of the genre, and (3) specific questions to guide students as they study the samples." Includes "chapters on giving and receiving feedback-essential legal writing skills that novice lawyers often must teach themselves." -- Publisher
Effective Legal Writing: A Gude for Students and Practitioners, 2d ed. by Publication Date: 2021"The English language knows only two types of writing--good writing and bad writing. Good legal writing is good writing about a legal subject." Leading judges and lawyers deliver many of the lessons.
Legal Research, Writing and Analysis, 13th ed. by Publication Date: 2019Ebook (West Academic Study Aids). Also available in print
Legal Writing: A Judge's Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word by Publication Date: 2020Print
Legal Writing: Getting It Right and Getting It Written, 6th ed. by Publication Date: 2018Print.
Designed as a desktop reference for legal writers.
Legal Writing and Analysis, 5th ed. by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Reference Area KF250 .E378 2019Publication Date: 2019Print.
Legal Writing and Analysis in a Nutshell, 5th ed. by Publication Date: 2017Ebook. Also available in print.
"This book provides a ten-step guide to clear, precise, and effective legal writing and analysis for both law students and experienced lawyers. It gives the keys to writing legal memoranda and briefs, organizing analysis, crafting clear and concise sentences, using legal language accurately, using grammar and punctuation properly, writing persuasively using classical rhetorical techniques." - Publisher
Legal Writing Nerd: Be One by Call Number: Reference Area LC (KF250 .S3485 2018)Publication Date: 2018
The Legal Writing Companion: Problems, Solutions, and Samples, 2d ed. by Publication Date: 2019
The Legal Writing Handbook: Analysis, Research, and Writing, 8th ed. by Publication Date: 2021Ebook.
Legal Writing Style, 3d ed. by Publication Date: 2018Ebook. Also available in print
"Legal Writing Style promotes the art of good writing by teaching students and practitioners the tools to make their prose clear, precise, simple, and forceful. With examples of what works and what doesn't, this short but comprehensive treatise provides an invaluable resource for recasting writing for maximum impact and ultimate success." - Publisher
Plain English for Lawyers, 6th ed. by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Reference Area LC KF250 .W88 2019Publication Date: 2019Print.
Thinking and Writing about Law by Publication Date: 2021Print
"primarily geared toward law students, [but] accessible for anyone who wants to improve their abilities in legal analysis and communication."
Thinking Like A Writer: A Lawyer's Guide to Effective Writing and Editing, 3d ed. by Publication Date: 2008Print.
Recommended by former Prof. Sarah Kaltsounis.
Legal Writing & Drafting Generally
Contracts in the Real World: Stories of Popular Contracts and Why They Matter, 2d ed. by Publication Date: 2016
Hereof, Thereof, and Everywhereof: A Contrarian Guide to Legal Drafting, 2d ed. by Publication Date: 2008
Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text with Exercises, 2d ed.ition by Publication Date: 2013
Plain English for Drafting Statutes and Rules by Publication Date: 2012- Plain English for Lawyers, 6th ed. by Publication Date: 2019
Preparing Plain Legal Documents for Nonlawyers by Publication Date: 2015
Legal Writing Texts - Memos
Legal Writing for Legal Readers: Predictive Writing for First-Year Students, 2d ed. by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Reference Area KF250 .B39 2019Publication Date: 2018Print.
Legal Writing Texts - Briefs
Effective Appellate Advocacy, Rev. Ed. by Publication Date: 2004Print. Based on Frederick Wiener's classic Briefing and Arguing Federal Appeals (1961).
A Litigator's Guide to Building Your Best Argument by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Classified Stacks KF8915 .K795 2019Publication Date: 2020Print.
Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges by Publication Date: 2008Print.
Burton Book of the Year in Law Award, 2009
The Mindful Legal Writer: Mastering Persuasive Writing by Publication Date: 2016
Legal Writing Texts - Opinion Letters
Note: Note: several of the legal writing guides also contain chapters on writing opinion letters.
Glazer and Fitzgibbon on Legal Opionions, 2d ed. by Publication Date: 2001, supp. through 2006
Books for Foreign-Trained Lawyers
Academic Legal Discourse and Analysis by Publication Date: 2019Ebook.
Part I focuses on the academic legal writing skills needed to write in law school. Part II introduces students to common law and legal analysis.
Culture to Culture: A Guide to U.S. Legal Writing by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Classified Stacks KF250 .R354 2005Publication Date: 2005Print.
Recommended by Elizabeth Baldwin, former law lecturer.
Essential Legal English in Context: Understanding the Vocabulary of U.S. Law and Government by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Classified Stacks KF156 .R67 2019Publication Date: 2019Print.
The book is designed "especially for international lawyers and students who are not familiar with the US legal system and its vocabulary." -- Publisher
Covers formal vocabulary ("judiciary," "judicial," "justice," "adjudicate" - p. 98) and less formal but still important vocabulary ("hot-button issue" - p. 48). It also covers the structure of government and sources of law. How do you describe different opinions (majority, concurrence, etc.)? What is a "line of cases" or (for goodness' sake, "progeny")?
Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing for International Graduate Students, 5th ed. by Publication Date: 2021Ebook.
4th ed. (2017) available in print
Lost in Translation: Effective Legal Writing for the International Legal Community by Publication Date: 2013Print.
Text aimed at foreign legal practitioners and law students. Chapter 7 is Academic Legal Writing.
Practical Legal English: Writing as a U.S. Lawyer by Call Number: Gallagher Law Library Reference Area KF250 .H637 2019Publication Date: 2019Print.
Offers practical guidance to non-U.S. lawyers on how to read, analyze, and write U.S. legal English. Author is both an attorney and a trained linguist.
Legal Writing Texts - Scholarly Writing
Our guide on writing for law reviews lists texts and articles with guidance for scholarly writing (whether or not you plan to publish it). See:
- Writing for & Publishing in Law Reviews [Gallagher Law Library]General advice, finding & developing topics, preemption checking, choosing where to submit, submitting papers.