Legal Writing and Research

[IHEARTLS]

Help!  I can't get my memo down to 6 pages!!!

Also, we were just introduced to Westlaw last week...they are going to show us Lexis this week.  During the first few weeks we were given library research exercises and they sucked b/c you had 30 people fighting for the same books.  On the last assignment someone actually HID a book!!!

(btw, I don't attend NSL)

[IHEARTLS]

Thanks JJ.  My memo is finally down to 6 pages...just wonder if I'll be able to sleep knowing that I removed words and phrases that I thought my memo couldn't live w/o.  Oh well...  I'm headed to the union to play DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION

Hid the book?  Not at NSL.

Have you brutally removed all unnecessary words.  Look for words that add no meaning.

Look for places where you make your point more than once.  Some of us have a tendency to make the point, but then repeat it differently to make it seem stronger.  When you have a space limit, you can't afford the luxury of the restatement.

Help!  I can't get my memo down to 6 pages!!!

Also, we were just introduced to Westlaw last week...they are going to show us Lexis this week.  During the first few weeks we were given library research exercises and they sucked b/c you had 30 people fighting for the same books.  On the last assignment someone actually HID a book!!!

(btw, I don't attend NSL)

[IHEARTLS]

So true...so wise...

don't worry about the words and phrases.  Worry about the meaning.  If the deletions don't change the meaning, then you didn't need them.

Thanks JJ.  My memo is finally down to 6 pages...just wonder if I'll be able to sleep knowing that I removed words and phrases that I thought my memo couldn't live w/o.  Oh well...  I'm headed to the union to play DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION

[Dicta]

I thought it was a pretty good speech. I still disagree with many of our policies but I do understand a bit more where she is coming from. I still disagree though.
And as for shepherdizing.......There is only so much time I can spend on something that counts for such a little percentage of our grade.
It's like spending most of your time on the case where you stand to recover $1500 as opposed to the case for $1.5M. KWIM? I have just decided to cut my losses on some of this stuff.
THANK THE GOOD LORD WE CAN USE WESTLAW FOR THE APPELLATE BRIEF!
Susan

[urwrong]

I agree Susan......too much time for too little return!

[Dicta]

Yep, me too. I'm done with reading for her class. I will pull out the books when I need a reference.
Pretty pitiful. Oops, we're in public again.
None of the above statements were made by myself.

[Dicta]

hey, email me privately if you need help. I'm done and can give "non-substantive" assistance.
Susan

[IHEARTLS]

How many cases/sources are you guys using for your open memo???  I'm just curious as to what the standard is.

[Dicta]

We haven't started yet. She will not give out the assignment until she deems it is time for us to see it (and she gives it out after class, creating a huge log jam).
Susan

[Dicta]

ok, got the assignment tonight, it is "informed consent".
We are to use sources until our research comes "full circle" meaning the cases we are finding are citing the cases we already have.
So, wonder how many that will be?
How about you?
Susan