Předmět Essentials of Legal Writing (HP1462)

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Materiál	Typ	Datum	Počet stažení

Cíl

Introducing students to the basic principles of legal writing in English

Sylabus

Description of the courseWeek 1·       Writing a cover letter and resume (c.v.)               Writing Focus: structuring letters               Language Focus: present perfect verb tense, word choice               Homework Exercise: letter writing and phrasesWriting Assignment 1: Write a resume and cover letter applying for an internship with White & Case (cover letter - maximum 350 words; CV - one page).       Week 2·       Writing a letter of advice to a client  (Company Law context)               Writing Focus: sequencing and paragraphing               Language Focus: describing steps to be taken, politely requesting information               In-class Exercise: selling ownership interest in a private company               Homework Exercise: describing what the law says Week 3·       Fundamental contract vocabulary and phrases (Lease Contract context)                                           Writing Focus: active, clear and understandable writing                 Language Focus: describing legal consequences                 In-class Exercise: Summarising lease contract provisions in plain language                 Homework Exercise: formal contract vocabulary; using articles (a, the)Writing Assignment 2: Write a letter of advice to your client from the UK, named Lessee Company, advising them of potential problems and issues in a proposed lease agreement distributed in class.  (maximum 400 words) Week 4·       Writing a letter before action and a letter of demand  (Family Law context)               Writing Focus: formal tone               Language Focus: filing a lawsuit, remedies               In-class exercise: draft a letter before action to Mr. Novak based on the facts below:Facts:  Your client, a Belgian citizen named Anna Snyder, has recently decided to divorce her Czech husband, Petr Novak. According to Ms. Snyder, Mr. Novak is an alcoholic who often verbally abuses her and their 6 year-old son, Luka. Ms. Snyder would like to reach an amicable out-of-court agreement on the terms of the divorce and custody of Luka. Her primary interests are to be granted sole custody of Luka, and also half of the value of their community property. Week 5·       Explaining statutory requirements to a client  (Administrative Law context)              Writing Focus: organisation of lists/conditions              Language Focus: making a polite refusal               Homework Exercise: common grammar and vocabulary mistakesWriting Assignment 3: Write a letter of resignation to Mr. Lowry (see facts below) informing him that you will not be able to advise him on the land purchase due to the conflict of interests. You may explicitly reserve the possibility to advise him on building permission regulations in Prague.  (maximum 300 words)Facts:  Your client, an Irish citizen named Roger Lowry, owns a real estate development firm and has sought your legal advice in a development project in Prague 10. Mr. Lowry is interested in buying land that is currently owned and used by a major consulting firm, XY Consultants, and developing that land into a commercial shopping centre. Yet you have discovered that the majority shareholder of XY Consultants, Richard Svobodny, is the owner also of a transport firm that is one of your main clients. Week 6·       Writing a research memorandum  (Torts Law context)                 Writing Focus: organisation of long documents, references and citations                 Language Focus: forming the issues                 In-class Exercise: drafting the issues section of a memorandum                 Homework Exercise: writing conclusionsWeek 7·       In-class memorandum workshop  (Torts Law context)      Writing Focus : adjusting to different readers (know your reader!)                 Language Focus: assessing weight of arguments and likelihood of success                  In-class exercise: drafting the conclusion section of a memorandum                 Homework Exercise : business law vocabulary exerciseWriting Assignment 4: Write a research memorandum to your boss addressing the potential liability of both the owner of the bridge and the electricity company based on the facts below.  (maximum 800 words)Facts:  Your client, Gregg, while walking on a little bridge over a stream, stops to take a picture and leans against the bridge railing. Due to its bad maintenance, the railing breaks under Gregg's weight, causing him to fall. In an effort to regain balance, Gregg grabs an electricity wire stretched along the bridge. The wire, however, is improperly insulated, and gives Gregg an electric shock. Gregg falls unconscious in the water and hits his head on the floor of the stream. As a result, Gregg is permanently disabled - a consequence much worse than that he would have probably suffered had he not been knocked unconscious before hitting the ground. Gregg wishes to sue both the owner of the bridge and the electricity company for damages. Week 8·       Formal writing - a proposal to a client (Business Law context)                Writing Focus: sequencing, structuring complex ideas                Language Focus : word order, passive tense                Homework Exercise: vocabulary review regarding appellate decisions Week 9·       Writing a case brief (Criminal Law context)                Writing Focus: succinct summarising, using precise language                Language Focus : case vocabularyWriting Assignment 5:Write a case brief for a judgment of the Supreme Court distributed in class: (1) identify the parties to the action;(2) summarise succinctly and clearly the facts giving rise to the legal controversy;(3) state the precise legal issue(s) presented by the facts;(4) summarise the reasoning the court used to reach its decision (this will be the longest section); and(5) state the principle of law established by the case.The audience for your case brief is your colleague (a lawyer) who needs a brief, accurate, and complete summary of the case as he works on a similar case. (approx. 800 words) 

Požadavky

Exam: All assignments (1-5) must be returned by December 16, 2015 in order to receive a grade for this course.1)    Attendance is required: each student must attend at least 7 of the 9 lessons.2)    Final assessment for the course is based on the average mark of all 5 assignments.3)    Follow the deadlines: penalty of one mark (e.g. 1 -> 2) for each day an assignment is late. Assignments received more than two days late automatically result in mark 4 for the assignment.4)    Marks of "4" on two or more assignments automatically results in a mark 4 for the course.

Garant

PhDr. Marta Chromá, Ph.D.

Vyučující

Sean Wesley DavidsonPhDr. Marta Chromá, Ph.D.