Legal Eagle Drafting: Learn to Reason and Write Like a Lawyer

In this flexible four week course there will be no live meetings.  Learners will be engaged in the beginning mechanics of persuasive writing through drafting a legal brief and a legal judgement.  

During week one of the course students will receive a video lecture on how to read case facts and develop a strong legal brief with reasoning and logical argumentation to write persuasively for their client.  The students will be given their assignment which will be due the following week.  During this week, each student will post an outline in the class and a rough draft for comment and review from the instructor and from peers. 

During week two students will turn in their legal briefs and will receive critical feedback and the chance to make edits in order to perfect their legal brief. Final drafts are posted in the classroom for peer discussion and feedback.  

During week three students will receive a video lecture regarding how to draft legal decisions.  Students will each receive a legal brief from which they must now draft a final legal decision on the matter.  The first draft of their legal decision will be due this week.  During this week, each student will post an outline in the class and a rough draft for comment and review from the instructor and from peers. 

In the final and fourth week of the course students will turn in their first draft and be given feedback from the instructor.  They will then revise their decision and post their final draft to the classroom.  Discussion questions will be posted based on the final draft of each legal decision and the students will engage in discussions and debates with regard to the final drafts.