A standard-setter in American legal education, Writing and Analysis in the Law provides a guide to legal writing, focusing on the importance of thoughtful, thorough analysis and clear organization in written communications. Developed as a textbook for a first-year law school course and successful in courses for foreign LLM students, the book introduces law students to analyzing and writing about legal authority in cases and statutes. It discusses the structure and persuasive techniques of effective argumentation. The book makes effective use of high-quality and illustrative examples and writing exercises. Lucid, compact, and up-to-date, this work consistently draws acclaim in law schools across the country.

The 7th edition has a new chapter on exam writing; a new section on the small-scale organization that focuses on case synthesis, case comparison, and counter-arguments; an expanded chapter on appellate briefs that adds material on the standard of review, theory of the case, persuasive writing techniques, and affirmative statements of law; new examples and exercises; and a new closed universe sample office memorandum and a new sample appellate brief.


Imprint: Foundation Press
Series: Coursebook
Publication Date: 04/11/2018

Helene S. Shapo, Northwestern University School of Law

Marilyn R. Walter, Brooklyn Law School

Elizabeth Fajans, Brooklyn Law School

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The 7th edition has a new chapter on exam writing; a new section on the small-scale organization that focuses on case synthesis, case comparison, and counter-arguments; an expanded chapter on appellate briefs that adds material on the standard of review, theory of the case, persuasive writing techniques, and affirmative statements of law; new examples and exercises; and a new closed universe sample office memorandum and a new sample appellate brief.

Learn more about this series.