Fundamentals of Legal Drafting

SLN #: 44398
Course Prefix: LAW-665
Course Section: 001
Credit Hours: 2
Instructor(s): Langenfeld
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
Course will meet May 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, and 27 from 10:00 am to 12:15.

Are you interested in transactional practice? Do you anticipate drafting contracts, leases, or other kinds of agreements during your legal career? This Intersession course will teach students fundamental writing skills applicable to drafting normative legal documents. Our efforts will not be spent on learning the doctrinal law of any one area, but rather will be directed toward learning techniques applicable to all legal drafting. We will spend time learning how to determine a client's objectives and meet them in the resulting document. We will cover the steps of drafting, paying particular attention to the research necessary to determine the proper substance of the document, the organization of the document, drafting style and usage, definitions, legal consequences, and rules of interpretation. Finally, we will learn to draft documents with accuracy, clarity, brevity, simplicity, and proper tone. Students can expect a workshop-like, hands-on course with an intensive writing component that will require much of their attention during the intersession period.

Course is open to ASU JD candidates only.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Numeric Grade and ONE-Time Pass Option is Available, or Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Prerequisite: 2 semesters of 1st year legal writing
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 15
Final Exam Given: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Yes, see description.
Participation Points: Possibly
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: Required

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.