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Write-On 101
Consists of three components:1. Personal Statement2. Line Edit Packet3. Casenote
Write-On Dates:Starts at 12pm on May 14th
Ends at 12pm on May 24th
Personal Statement – 20%
2 pages maximum (double-spaced) Specific page layout details to be provided in the packet
Graded by 8 CLR Members Highest and lowest scores dropped, the rest are averaged
Prompt Available On The CLR Website (and via Handout from the First
Meeting and Kim’s emails!)
Personal Statement Tips
Do NOT use your law school application personal statements
Do NOT provide a laundry list of accomplishments
Do Answer the Prompt Tell us WHY CLR and what you bring
Questions to think about: Who are you? Why are you here? What do you bring to CLR? What are you passionate about? Why do you want to get involved with legal scholarship?
Line Edit Packet – 30%
Approximately 9 pages
Use the proofreading marks CLR provides (see your handout!)
Refer to the CLR Style Guide!
What are we testing? Bluebooking of footnotes Cite-checking and source support
Grammar and editing skills
Line Edit Packet Tools
Line Edit Packet
“Above the Line Edits”: The Main Text Structural problems
Does this paragraph have a topic sentence? Should this be two paragraphs and not one? Is this paragraph out of place?
Sentence Structure Run-on sentences? Active vs. passive voice?
Grammar & punctuation Correct spelling? Correct punctuation?
“Below the Line Edits”: The Footnotes Small caps? Abbreviations? Signals? Correct order of authority?
Run-on sentences? Correct spelling? Correct punctuation? Do not use the blue pages! Remember that the Bluebook Index is your friend!
Line Edit Packet – Cite Checking
Check accuracy of cited information Pay attention to signals, date, court, page references
Insert information where necessary
Check all quotations All quotations must match original source verbatim
Check for missing source support! Does the author make a statement with no footnote whatsoever? Does the cited source actually support the proposition?
Line Edit Packet Tips
Take your time! Some begin by editing the entire packet above-the line first, THEN editing below the line.
Make it as clear and easy to read/grade as possible. As long as your grader can tell what you did, you’re okay (assuming it’s correct!).
Do NOT look outside of provided source materials.
Learn how to access all “tools” before the Write-On Competition. This is particularly true for CMS! Make sure you have read the Style Guide for any rules or exceptions to the rules specific to CLR!
Line Edit Packet Submission
Scan your Packet, then transmit it electronically along with the rest of your write-on submission!
A great idea is to print two of the line edit packets. Complete your line edit in pencil on one version. Then when you are confident it is complete, engage in all of your red ink and highlighting glory on the final copy to be scanned.
No late submissions will be accepted.
Email [email protected] if you anticipate any problems with turning
it in.
Casenote – 50%
18 pages maximum, 28 lines of text per page In MS Office: Format Paragraph Line
Spacing: Exactly At: 23 pt.
Specific page layout details to be provided in the packet instruction.
Evaluated by 6 CLR Members
Sample Casenotes will be on reserve in the library. We will update you via email.
Casenote – 50%
Purpose Provide commentary and legal analysis on a judicial opinion
Can be focused on any aspect of the case!
Materials Everything you need will be in your packet (case and research materials)
Do NOT cite to any outside materials. DO NOT cite a case in a reporter different from the one you received it in!
Casenote Packet: Getting Started
1. Relax! Don’t panic!2. Read the main case! Mark it in the margins,
or take notes! Look for good reasoning or poor reasoning, counterarguments, etc. Take note of other cases the court relies upon to guide
its analysis. Surprise, surprise, many of those cases will also be in your packet!
3. Read foundational cases. If a case seems tangential or an offshoot of the ‘main line’ of cases, you can put it aside and come back to it if it’s relevant later!
Casenote: What Next? Law Review Articles!
How do I even begin? There are so many pages in the packet still!
1. Glance at the article titles. Start with something that sparks your interest.
2. Read abstracts! If interest continues, then:3. Read the Introduction. This can be an excellent stopping
point to move on to the next article. Next Steps could include: reading the conclusion, reading the topic
sentences of introductory paragraphs of the analysis sections, or just diving into the article because it is of interest.
!! You might start to notice different ‘clusters’ of topics as you read. Home in on this and run with what sparks your intellectual interest!
If Law Review Articles seem boring, peek at other sources. Read what jumps off the page at you!
Suggested Casenote Structure
I. Introduction• Court’s holding• Thesis
II. The Case• Procedural history• Relevant facts• Court’s holding and reasoning
III.Legal Background & Existing Law• Previous law. You do NOT necessarily need
to cover every case we give you, especially if that case covers legal background not relevant to your thesis. You DO need to cover any truly seminal cases in the field.
Suggested Casenote Structure
IV. Case Analysis• Was the case correctly or incorrectly
decided?• How does this case fit into existing
law?• Is the decision sound in light of
public policy? Does the opinion correspond with empirical data or a particular theory or justification for the Rule?
V. Conclusion• Summarize and unify your basic
arguments.
Casenote Grading
What are we looking for?
Analysis
Structure
Grammar, Style, and Bluebooking
Casenote Grading: Analysis
Is there a clearly defined, identifiable thesis?
Does the argument support the thesis?
Are there adequate sources to support each claim?
Were there obvious counterarguments that were not addressed by the author? Avoid setting up strong counterarguments against your position as a strawman.
Depth and nuance of the analysis?
Casenote Grading: Structure
Does the analysis flow from one paragraph to the next in a logical way?
Is appropriate space apportioned to each section? Is the Casenote too background heavy and too light on the analysis?
Are there unnecessary facts or detail in the Legal and Factual Background sections?
Are there clear, useful and persuasive headings?
Does each paragraph contain a topic sentence?
Casenote Grading: Grammar, Style, Bluebooking
Did the author use active voice?
Are there variable sentence structures?
AVOID: wordiness, block quotes, long sentences (more than 27 words), paragraphs (more than 3 – 5 sentences) or sections (more than 3 pages)
Correct spelling and punctuation?
Grading rules will be based on Chicago Manual of Syle, Bluebook, and CLR Principles of Style
Casenote Tips
Not expected to use all of the authorities!
Review material quickly before you try to form a thesis
Thesis: Pick a single, discrete issueSupport thesis and address counterarguments
Be clear, concise, and organized (headings)
Proofread and revise carefully! Transitions, topic sentences, proper Bluebooking format
Write-On Logistics
Write-On Registration
Details will be Forthcoming in an Email to all of you, detailing registration requirements. Some of these are covered in the next slide.
Important Policies
Disability Policy Same accommodations students receive on other similar take-
home exams Honor Code
The Honor Code is in effect for this competition. You will sign a copy of this, along with a FERPA Waiver Form (see below) and turn them in to the CLR Office as part of Registration requirements.
FERPA The Journal collects demographic info on students who participate
in the annual write-on, this will not affect admissions decisions. Collection of this data is optional. Releasing information you disclosed in
your application to Berkeley Law is completely optional!
CLR Time Commitment
During the school year Approximately 80 hours per a semester It is possible (and encouraged) to be a member of CLR and
hold leadership positions in other journals/organizations
1L Summer Mandatory orientation late in August. It will be really
helpful, fun, and we will do our best not to interfere with 2L summer job interviewing!
2L Summer Must commit to grading the Write-On
Additional Tips
Follow the Instructions Otherwise you may be disqualified
Time Management Make sure you allot time to upload the
Casenote and personal statement and turn in the editing packet
Only use the authority that is provided in the packet Make sure to organize your thoughts and
look at the samples before starting
Additional TipsGet started early and keep at it! Don’t think
about how much time you need to spend—tell yourself how many times you will start working on it that day (e.g., I will start work on this six times today, or twice today, etc.) Celebrate every time you start work on it!
Use the materials effectively Do not read each and every single page of the
packet
There is no “right” answer (except on the editing section) Do not quit because you don’t know if you’re
doing it right
[email protected](Yes, you have seen this a million
times, but we are here for a reason! We want you to succeed!)
Questions? Concerns?
