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The Legal Writing Program is based on a few foundation principles. First, it strives for long-term learning, not just how to write any given document. Consequently, it focuses on the process lawyers go through as they research, analyze, and write so that students can use that process to solve other legal problems.
Second, faculty believe that the best curriculum is one in which each assignment builds on what was learned before and introduces new concepts and skills. Carefully sequenced assignments allow students to practice and master critical research and writing skills.
Lastly, faculty provide extensive feedback on assignment drafts. Students have the opportunity to revise drafts to create even better final products and to apply the feedback to other parts of the assignment.
Legal Writing I
In their first year, law students take a three-credit course that uses
the process approach to introduce legal research and citation, legal reading
and legal analysis, and the principles of good writing. Legal Writing I classes
are small, interactive classes taught by full-time faculty. Students research
and write legal memoranda about emerging issues in the law and about topics
that they are studying in their other first-year courses.
Legal Writing II
In their second year, law students learn how to be advocates. They
focus on persuasion as they write trial and appellate briefs and make oral arguments.
Using the actual lower court record from a case that is currently pending in
the Washington State Court of Appeals, students research and write a brief in
support of a pre-trial motion; argue that motion; research and write an appellate
brief; and then argue their brief before a panel of attorneys acting as appellate
judges.
Advanced Classes
In their second and third year, law students can also take advanced
legal writing and researching classes. The curriculum includes drafting labs
that train students how to draft “real life” legal documents such
as contracts, wills, and leases. An advanced writing seminar allows students
to further develop their skills in effective persuasion and in the use of an
elegant, clear style. An advanced legal research class, students further explore
the ever-increasing number of print and electronic legal resources.
The legal writing faculty at Seattle University is on the cutting edge in its use of technology both in and outside the classroom.
Each classroom is equipped with a state-of-the-art system that allows faculty to show CDs and videos and to project computer screens and all types of paper documents. In addition, classrooms have both high-speed and wireless Internet. Students can e-mail drafts to their professor for immediate projection and can actively participate with their professor in online legal research sessions.
Outside of class, critiquing and grading is done electronically: students submit their assignments as e-mail attachments, professors insert comments directly into the electronic versions of the documents, and then return the assignments to students. Furthermore, every legal writing class has its own Web site, used to upload assignment sheets and handouts, to link to useful Web sites, and to schedule student conferences.
Seattle University has demonstrated its commitment to legal writing by offering four legal writing scholarships: The Mark Reutlinger Excellence in Legal Writing Scholarship, the Cheney Legal Writing Scholarship, and two Metzger Legal Writing Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to second-year students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in their first-year legal writing course.