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Creating Legal Writing Problems That Work (And What to Do if They Don’t)
Professor Lisa A. MazzieMarquette University Law School
2013 Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference, Boulder, CO
March 23, 2013
Getting Started
• Determine the parameters of the problem What kind of written product do you want?
• Memo? Brief? Email?
What is the student’s role?• Do you assign sides or let students choose?• Student law firms?
Will there be research?• Open or closed research?• Jurisdiction?
What sources/authorities should students end up with?
• Case law only? Statutes and case law? Will you include or allow secondary sources? What kinds of secondary sources (e.g. social sciences, too)?
How many issues?• One issue or multiple issues?• Sub-issues?
Level of difficulty?• You can never make things too easy.
Coming Up with an Idea
• Areas of law with which you are familiar
• Areas of law with which students are familiar
• Areas of law traditionally in 1L curriculum Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts, Civil Procedure,
Property, Constitutional Law
Coming Up with an Idea
• News stories/blogs/YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0yj5tZtmfk
Coming Up with an Idea
• Pop Culture
• LWI Idea Bank www.ideabank.rutgers.edu If you’ve been teaching legal writing for fewer
than two years, email Sabrina DeFabritiis, [email protected] for a password.
• LWI Listserv [email protected]
• Random electronic searches/ALRs
• Things of interest
Going from Idea to Reality• What do you give the students?
Assigning memo from partner? Create a “record”? Live “client” interviewing? Experts?
Going from Idea to Reality
• Writing the facts
• Choosing sides Who is the client? How do you choose?
• Including procedure
• Sample written product
Handling the Unexpected
• Changes in the law
• A problem that just doesn’t work
• Student discomfort
• Remember, this is YOUR world to create and manipulate!
Recycle or Retire?
• Recycle Pros:
• Nuances are apparent• Student response is positive
Cons:• Increases plagiarism concerns• Staleness
If you do recycle –• Consider how often to reuse• Update• Make changes
Recycle or Retire?
• Retire Pros:
• No worries about plagiarism• “Retired” problems can be used as samples or
exercises Cons:
• You need to develop new problems
Potential Ideas• Negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Trespass
• Personal injury (contact sports)
• Attractive nuisance
• False imprisonment
• Drug possession
• DUI
• Assault/battery
• Sexting
• Paternity/family law
• Non-compete agreements
• Easements
• Takings
• Employment discrimination
Other Thoughts/Ideas/Questions?
Contact
Lisa Mazzie
Associate Professor of Legal Writing
Marquette University Law School
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
414.288.5367
