contact e-mail address:
orient@ili.org

Workshop on Legal Research and Writing
July 28 - August 1, 2008

This one-week workshop is designed for students entering an LL.M program in the fall semester of 2008. As an advanced follow-up course to the Introduction to Legal English and Orientation in the US Legal System or as a stand-alone specialized course, it introduces students to the skills they will need to succeed in legal research and writing assignments in their law school courses. The course emphasizes the use of plain language in both written and oral formats, the components of legal argument, and the reliance on judicial precedent in Common Law reasoning and statutory interpretation.

Because many students entering an LL.M program have been trained in Civil Law, the primary goal of the workshop is to initiate students to the fundamental differences in Common Law reasoning and language.

Program Design

The course is taught in small sections to enable students to benefit from close attention by the faculty. Because language is the medium of legal reasoning  and argument, the students have daily exercises in mastery of vocabulary. Among the writing requirements for this course, each student must prepare a memorandum, an opinion letter, or a brief. Particular emphasis will also be given to effective research strategies, use of primary and secondary research materials, and citation formats necessary in academic and professional writing.

Faculty

The course is conducted by faculty with experience in teaching students whose first language is not English and whose previous training has been in Civil Law.

Students

Students applying for admission to the workshop should have a sound foundation in English. While no particular TOEFL score is required for this program, it is anticipated that participants will have been admitted to an LL.M program. Exceptions may be made for participants who are in the process of applying to LL.M programs or who otherwise have a high level of English language competency.

Contact email:

Tuition fee $900 (discounts apply if attending more than one 2008 summer course. See Application Process)