Friday, October 19, 2007

How to suck at legal writing

When the assignment is an objective memo, try writing a persuasive one instead. Oops.

When the structure of the memo requires the following structure — Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion — try this structure instead: Conclusion, some cases, your personal opinion and the occasional reference to the facts of the case the memo is supposed to be about. 

When thinking that you might actually be doing something right, be sure to repeat yourself by rephrasing the same argument throughout the memo. This will erase any doubt on the reader's part that you don't have a clue.

Put your name in front of each page number, as if you're still writing college papers.

Demote yourself by saying you're a junior associate when you're actually an associate in your Legal Skills firm.

Number the cover page as "Page 1."

Finally, be sure to completely miss one of the primary issues of the case. This will erase any doubt about your miserable first attempt at legal writing.

Get 'em next time, slugger.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

You are a junior associate. At least we were.