Writing and Analysis in the Law, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

Shapo (Author), Helene S. Shapo (Author), Walter (Author), Fajans (Author), Marilyn R. Walter (Author), Elizabeth Fajans (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 156662780X | ISBN-13: 978-1566627801 | Publication Date: May 26, 1999 | Edition: 4th

Writing and Analysis in the Law, Fourth Edition, is a textbook for a first-year law school course in legal writing. The author focuses on the importance of clear organization in written and oral communications.

The book introduces law students to principles of research, analyzing legal authority in both case law and statues. Includes discussion on structure and persuasive techniques of effective appellate argument, both in briefs and in oral presentation. The book makes extensive use of illustrative examples and writing exercises.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Foundation Pr; 4th edition (May 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156662780X
• ISBN-13: 978-1566627801
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Law school made easier, May 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing and Analysis in the Law, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

If you are a law student taking Legal Writing or an associate (summer or new) in a firm, this book will teach or refresh all the skills you need to write an effective memo or brief. The authors teach clear writing and provide actual student wrting samples to elucidate their techniques. The book is especially helpful for those who are wholly unfamiliar with legal writing, and the index and layout make it a user-friendly reference tool. Most impoprtantly, though, the book is short; it provides a comprehensive framework without flooding the reader with unnecessary or confusing information.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great refresher and reference, September 29, 2008

By 

Jster "Jster" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing and Analysis in the Law (Paperback)

After reading the other reviews, I felt it was necessary to add my thoughts to the list. I found out about this book a few months ago while talking to a rising 1L about his legal writing course. As a looked through it, I realized that the format of this book would be a great tool for me to edit my writing samples for prospective employers. Most of the advice in this book about techniques and strategy is great, at least for the way I learn. I made an outline of some of the chapters for myself, including the authors' guidelines and underlying reason for why those techniques and strategies work. (I know, it's like a class outline.)

This is the kind of guidance I find helpful. Our class used the Neumann book. Some people love the Neumann book, but it's not the best learning tool for me. Everyone learns differently. All I know is if I can't learn from it, it's of no value to me. The lack of examples is a legitimate point. I was lucky to have a legal writing professor who supplied us with copies of his own briefs for us to study. So, that was not much of a problem for me. In the end, Writing and Analysis in the Law is the legal writing guide I wish I had read the summer before law school and during the first year.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless, February 2, 2011

By 

Lauren - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing and Analysis in the Law (Paperback)

This book is no help whatsoever. What could be said in two sentences is said in ten pages. (Isn't legal writing supposed to be about learning how to be concise?) There were few, if any helpful model writing examples to follow. It is not a good reference due to its wordiness.