Module Overview

Welcome to Legal Analysis, Writing & Research (LAWR) I. LAWR is a year long course that teaches the fundamental skills used by lawyers: independent critical thinking, and effective oral and written communication. Classes will teach how to:

•           Produce logical, well-focused legal analysis;

•           Write with good grammar, style and organization, for varying audiences;

•           Formulate, research and answer legal questions; and

•           Present persuasive argumentative analysis.

 In class, you will act as much as possible like real lawyers. To learn the skills of a lawyer, you will do what they do. The key to learning a lawyer’s skills in LAWR is to actively participate: in class, in discussion and class exercises, and out of class, in written and oral assignments. Participation will be regular and challenging, and frequently fun. The reward will not only be a firm grasp on the particular skills required by lawyers, but the thinking and communication skills that can be applied in any context.

Summary of Events:

Assignment                 Assigned                             Due Date                        Word Limit

Week 7 - Tort Mid-Semester Test*

*Hand your Tort Mid-Semester Test to your LAWR tutor for additional feedback as soon as you have reviewed the marked copy from your Torts tutor.

Method of assessment and grades:

Grades for LAWR are based solely on continuous assessment; there is no final examination. Grades for Semester 1 of LAWR are calculated as follows:

Closed Memorandum I                                   10 %

Closed Memorandum II                                 25 %

Oral Presentation                                            15 %

Research Memorandum & Binder                  25 %

Class Participation                                          25 %

Class Participation:

Class participation is essential in order to understand and acquire the skills taught in LAWR, and this is reflected in the grade percentage breakdown. In LAWR, class participation means quite a bit more than just showing up for class. Students are expected to participate actively in class by doing the assigned reading and other preparation, volunteering answers to matters of discussion, and asking questions that add to class discussion. The class participation grade is based on a student’s in-class performance as well as several LAWR assignments that do not appear separately above. 

Some things to note regarding written assignments:

1. Word Limits:

All papers must comply with the word limit by stating the paper’s actual word count on the paper and by not going over the word limit. Word limits are necessary in order to learn to write concisely, and they are taken very seriously in order to evaluate all students fairly. Instructors have the discretion to down grade papers that either do not contain a word count or that go over the word limit by one or more words. Instructors may also hand back the paper or treat it as late, with attendant deductions for every day the paper continues to be late. Check with your instructor to determine what the instructor’s particular policy is regarding word limits.

Please put the final word count on the top right hand corner of your first page. Other formatting requirements may be added so be sure to check with your instructor.

            Please note that although students will need to edit most papers carefully to come within the word limit, no student is required to write up to the word limit. The actual word count of any paper depends on the issues raised and the material covered. Good papers are succinct. Start to develop judgment in this area.

2. Due Dates:

Most written assignments this semester are due via electronic filing NLT the relevant Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Electronic filing can be done either by uploading your assignment to the appropriate IVLE site or via an email attachment to your instructor, so check with your instructor to make sure you have complied with the instructor’s particular preferences and directions. You may of course turn in your assignment prior to the due date. Keep in mind that a hard copy assignment turned into the Student Counter on Monday, unaccompanied by a timely electronic filing on the due date, will be considered late, and that some instructors will not accept hard copies at all. Some assignments, however—the assignments incorporating hard copy documents—may be due at a different time or place. Check your syllabus and assignment instructions carefully to make sure that you submit an assignment on time and in the correct way. It will be very frustrating to work hard on an assignment and have it down graded because it is late. Late papers will be down graded ½ grade for every day they are late after the time and date deadline, e.g., from B to B-.

Follow your instructor’s directions about where to place identifying information such as your name or matriculation number, TG number and contact number. Format your papers in Microsoft Word. No footnotes are allowed; all case citations and other references should be incorporated into the main text (check Carswell for details). Please use at least 12-point character size and double-space the lines of text. Leave large enough margins so that your instructor has room to make comments.

            If you believe you require an extension, check with the personnel in the administrative office of the Law School for the appropriate form. You will need to fill out the form, explain and document your reasons, and submit it with the relevant supporting documentation to the Course Convenor via the Student Counter. Individual instructors do not grant extensions.