A Lawyer Writes: A Practical Guide to Legal Analysis

For class planning purposes, instructors may find a brief list of changes from the second edition of A Lawyer Writes here.

This new edition of the popular text teaches the foundational principles of critical reading, analysis, and writing in a clear and accessible way. By putting the reader in the place of a first-year attorney, the text shows law students how to succeed in law school and in the practice of law. Using graphics and contrasting effective and weak examples to illustrate concepts, the book demonstrates best practices in both traditional and electronic environments. Speaking to its readers in a straightforward manner, A Lawyer Writes communicates essential skills and theories so that they will be retained for a lifetime of legal practice.

This third edition of A Lawyer Writes preserves the original concepts from the previous edition while refining content to reflect current practices. Chapter 18, "Professional Emails," not only discusses the form and substance of electronic communication, but now features new material on how to convey analysis effectively in email. Chapter 19, "The Transition from Objective to Persuasive Writing," has been reorganized and revised to highlight effective strategies for drafting persuasive analysis. Revisions in other chapters reorganize and update the original content by expanding on or clarifying ideas.

Christine Nero Coughlin is a Professor of Law at Wake Forest University School of Law.

Joan Malmud Rocklin is a Legal Research and Writing Senior Lecturer II at the University of Oregon School of Law and a recipient of the law school’s Orlando J. Hollis award for excellence in teaching.

Sandy C. Patrick is a Professor of Lawyering at Lewis & Clark Law School.