> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://jennyrice.gitbook.io/wrd-418-legal-writing/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://jennyrice.gitbook.io/wrd-418-legal-writing/introductions/a-brief-introduction-to-legal-writing.md).

# A Brief Introduction to Legal Writing

As a student in WRD 418, you might be thinking about going to law school or pursuing a career that deals with the law. If so, you're in the right place! 

And even if you aren't thinking about either of these options, WRD 418 will give you some valuable skills for thinking and writing more persuasively about legal issues. These skills can help you better advocate for yourself when dealing with everyday problems involving laws, codes, contracts, and *lots* of other legal issues! 

WRD 418 mirrors the legal writing courses that many law school students will take in their first year. We will talk a lot about how to practice legal analysis, as well as how to make strong arguments using the kind of legal reasoning that lawyers and politicians must abide by. 

Legal writing aims to persuade using a mix of <mark style="color:orange;">**legal analysis**</mark> and <mark style="color:orange;">**style**</mark>. We will focus on both of these skills throughout the semester.&#x20;

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<summary>Much of the material in this textbook is indebted to CC-licensed works listed here (expand for more). </summary>

Nan L. Haynes, *Legal Writing Handbook for Clinical Students*, published by CALI eLangdell® Press, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/),&#x20;

Jean Mangan, et. al., *Legal Writing Manual*, 3d ed, CC BY-NC-SA 4.10 license.

Brian N. Larson, [*Legal Argumentation Reasoning and Writing About the Law*](https://www.rhetoricked.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Legal-Argumentation-fall-2020-ed.-FINAL.pdf), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

[The Dual Court System](https://louis.pressbooks.pub/introamericangov/chapter/the-dual-court-system/) Copyright © 2022 by Lumen Learning and OpenStax is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Unless otherwise indicated, third-party texts, images, and other materials quoted in this resource are included based on fair use as described in the [Code of Best Practices for Fair Use in Open Education.](https://cmsimpact.org/code/open-educational-resources/)

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