Prof. Colleen Grady Unit 1: Welcome, Overview of Course, and Legal Writing Style Welcome to PA 401:...

Prof. Colleen GradyProf. Colleen Grady

Unit 1: Welcome, Overview of Course, Unit 1: Welcome, Overview of Course, and Legal Writing Styleand Legal Writing Style

Welcome to PA 401: Welcome to PA 401: Advanced Legal WritingAdvanced Legal Writing

AgendaAgenda

Welcome!Welcome! Overview of Course and Overview of Course and

Administrative mattersAdministrative matters Legal Writing StyleLegal Writing Style Assignment #1Assignment #1 Discussion BoardDiscussion Board Unit 1 requirementsUnit 1 requirements

Kaplan University - PA 401 2

What’s This Course About?What’s This Course About?

You will get instruction in and You will get instruction in and practice with researching and practice with researching and analyzing complex legal issues.analyzing complex legal issues.

You will practice using appropriate You will practice using appropriate form and tone in legal documents.form and tone in legal documents.

You will compose legal documents.You will compose legal documents. You will work in steps to complete You will work in steps to complete

the final project. the final project.


SyllabusSyllabus

The Syllabus will guide you throughout The Syllabus will guide you throughout the course. It will remind you when the course. It will remind you when graded items are due and what we are graded items are due and what we are studying during each unit.studying during each unit.

You can see from the Syllabus a You can see from the Syllabus a breakdown of your gradebook – that breakdown of your gradebook – that shows what each assignment is worth. shows what each assignment is worth.

Use the Syllabus as your road map.Use the Syllabus as your road map.


Office HoursOffice Hours I will hold my office hours via AOL I will hold my office hours via AOL

instant messenger every Sunday from instant messenger every Sunday from 9-10 pm EST and Thursday 9-10 pm 9-10 pm EST and Thursday 9-10 pm EST. Information on downloading AIM EST. Information on downloading AIM can be found in the Syllabus.can be found in the Syllabus.

If you cannot make it during this time If you cannot make it during this time but would like to meet with me, please but would like to meet with me, please email me and we will arrange for a email me and we will arrange for a different time to talk by IM or phone.different time to talk by IM or phone.


SeminarsSeminars

Seminars will be held every Thursday Seminars will be held every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST. There are no at 8:00 pm EST. There are no Seminars in Unit 5 or Unit 10. Seminars in Unit 5 or Unit 10.

I arrive in Seminar at least 10 to 15 I arrive in Seminar at least 10 to 15 minutes before 8:00.minutes before 8:00.

Seminars are graded –if you cannot Seminars are graded –if you cannot make it, you can write a 1-2 page make it, you can write a 1-2 page summary and send it by email to summary and send it by email to earn your points.earn your points.


Seminars (cont.)Seminars (cont.)

If you try to enter the seminar but it won’t If you try to enter the seminar but it won’t load, and you’ve been trying for 5-10 load, and you’ve been trying for 5-10 minutes, you should head over to the main minutes, you should head over to the main chatroom under the “Live” tab in the chatroom under the “Live” tab in the classroom. This is Plan B.classroom. This is Plan B.

In the rare event that neither the seminar In the rare event that neither the seminar platform nor the chatroom is working, I will platform nor the chatroom is working, I will be available via AIM to give further be available via AIM to give further instructions.instructions.


General InformationGeneral Information

Start/End Dates: The Kaplan University Start/End Dates: The Kaplan University "class week" begins Wednesdays at "class week" begins Wednesdays at 12am EST and ends on Tuesdays at 12am EST and ends on Tuesdays at 11:59 pm EST11:59 pm EST

Assignments (Projects)/Discussion Assignments (Projects)/Discussion Questions postings will be graded within Questions postings will be graded within 5 days of the due date.5 days of the due date.

Don’t get too far behind. Contact me Don’t get too far behind. Contact me ahead of time if you can’t get an ahead of time if you can’t get an assignment done.assignment done.


How Will You Be Graded?How Will You Be Graded?

SEMINARS (8) 5 POINTS EACH (40)

DISCUSSION BOARD (8) 20 POINTS EACH (160)

Unit 1 Assignment (Identify Issues) 120 POINTS

Unit 2 Assignment (Research plan) 120 POINTS

Unit 3 Assignment (Case Brief) 120 POINTS

Unit 7 Assignment (Draft of Legal

memorandum)120 POINTS

Unit 9 Assignment (Final Legal

memorandum and case brief)220 POINTS

MIDTERM EXAM (Unit 5) 100 POINTS


Academic Success CenterAcademic Success Center

Take advantage of the Take advantage of the free academic free academic support servicessupport services available through the available through the Kaplan University Academic Success Center, Kaplan University Academic Success Center, including:including:

Writing Center Writing Center Math Center Math Center Paper Critiques Paper Critiques Online subject-matter references and Online subject-matter references and

tutorials tutorials Live online tutoring Live online tutoring


Any Questions so far?Any Questions so far?


Legal WritingLegal Writing

Avoid slang words Avoid slang words Try not to use abbreviations Try not to use abbreviations Great care should ALWAYS be taken Great care should ALWAYS be taken

to spell the names of people and to spell the names of people and companies correctly companies correctly

Keep sentences shortKeep sentences short Avoid LegaleseAvoid Legalese Always use proper citationsAlways use proper citations


ProofreadingProofreading Perhaps the most important thing to Perhaps the most important thing to

remember when writing a document is to remember when writing a document is to check it thoroughly when it is completed. check it thoroughly when it is completed.

Even when you think it is exactly what Even when you think it is exactly what you want, read it one more time. Read it you want, read it one more time. Read it out loud if you can because your ear may out loud if you can because your ear may catch mistakes that your eyes miss.catch mistakes that your eyes miss.

This "unwritten" rule holds true for This "unwritten" rule holds true for everything you write - memos, letters, everything you write - memos, letters, proposals, etc.proposals, etc.


GrammarGrammar

Use both the grammar and spell check on Use both the grammar and spell check on your computer, paying very, very close your computer, paying very, very close attention to every word highlighted. attention to every word highlighted.

Make sure the document is clear and concise.Make sure the document is clear and concise. Look to see if there is anything in the written Look to see if there is anything in the written

communication that could be misinterpreted. communication that could be misinterpreted. Does it raise unanswered questions or fail to Does it raise unanswered questions or fail to

make the point you need to get across?make the point you need to get across?


This Week’s AssignmentThis Week’s Assignment For this week’s assignment, you will list the Legal For this week’s assignment, you will list the Legal

Issues involved in the Jane Doe fact pattern for the Issues involved in the Jane Doe fact pattern for the final project. List the specific issue or issues you final project. List the specific issue or issues you believe must be addressed after reading the fact believe must be addressed after reading the fact pattern. pattern. You are to focus solely on the filing of a You are to focus solely on the filing of a petition for asylum. petition for asylum.

At this point, do not continue your research; At this point, do not continue your research; just list just list the legal issues you believe your managing the legal issues you believe your managing attorney has asked you to research.attorney has asked you to research. Then prepare Then prepare a draft e-mail presenting the list that identifies the a draft e-mail presenting the list that identifies the issue or issues. Put the email in a word document and issue or issues. Put the email in a word document and submit it in the dropbox.submit it in the dropbox.

The list should demonstrate strong written The list should demonstrate strong written communication skills and include some description communication skills and include some description and analysis. and analysis.


Discussion BoardDiscussion Board Introduce YourselfIntroduce Yourself Unit 1 Discussion BoardUnit 1 Discussion Board

You have just been hired by a law firm You have just been hired by a law firm that specializes in litigation. Your that specializes in litigation. Your predecessor was terminated last week. At predecessor was terminated last week. At 1:00 p.m., your attorney dumps a pile of 1:00 p.m., your attorney dumps a pile of files on your desk and asks you to review files on your desk and asks you to review the research results for a case on the research results for a case on which your predecessor was working. which your predecessor was working. Your attorney wants to see a draft memo Your attorney wants to see a draft memo from you by 10:00 a.m. the next day. from you by 10:00 a.m. the next day.


Discussion Board (cont)Discussion Board (cont) In the files, you find the attorney's written notes In the files, you find the attorney's written notes

on the initial client meeting, a memo from the on the initial client meeting, a memo from the attorney to your predecessor requesting attorney to your predecessor requesting research on certain topics and legal issues, and research on certain topics and legal issues, and printed copies of case-related research. There is printed copies of case-related research. There is also a draft memo from your predecessor to the also a draft memo from your predecessor to the attorney discussing the research. The memo, attorney discussing the research. The memo, which is very difficult to read, contains many which is very difficult to read, contains many spelling and grammar errors, but you think you spelling and grammar errors, but you think you might be able to edit it, correcting the spelling might be able to edit it, correcting the spelling and grammar errors, and submit it to the and grammar errors, and submit it to the attorney. If you do so, you will meet your attorney. If you do so, you will meet your attorney's deadline. attorney's deadline.

How will you respond to this situation?How will you respond to this situation?Kaplan University - PA 401 17

Discussion Board (cont)Discussion Board (cont) In your response, include at least the In your response, include at least the

following considerations: following considerations: Are there any ethical issues with using your Are there any ethical issues with using your

predecessor's research results? If so, what will predecessor's research results? If so, what will you do to ensure compliance with those issues you do to ensure compliance with those issues that you have identified? that you have identified?

How will you verify the accuracy of the printed How will you verify the accuracy of the printed material in the file? material in the file?

Comment on your general concerns and Comment on your general concerns and observations about the fact pattern.observations about the fact pattern.

For full credit, you need to post on 3 For full credit, you need to post on 3 different days and respond to at least three different days and respond to at least three students in addition to your main posting. students in addition to your main posting.


Unit 1 RequirementsUnit 1 Requirements

Attend Seminar or do the alternate Attend Seminar or do the alternate assignment (5 points)assignment (5 points)

Complete the reading assignment Complete the reading assignment (Chapters 1 and 2 in the eBook)(Chapters 1 and 2 in the eBook)

Introduce yourself to your classmatesIntroduce yourself to your classmates Post to the Discussion Board with your Post to the Discussion Board with your

main post and at least 3 responses (20 main post and at least 3 responses (20 points)points)

Submit the Issues assignment in the Submit the Issues assignment in the DropBox (120 points)DropBox (120 points)


Prof. Colleen Grady Unit 1: Welcome, Overview of Course, and Legal Writing Style Welcome to PA 401:...

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