Law Schedule of Classes

NOTE: Course offerings change. Classes offered this semester may not be offered in future semesters.

Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.


207.5 sec. 005 - Advanced Legal Writing (Spring 2023)

Instructor: Emily E Berry  (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
Instructor: Diana DiGennaro  (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only

Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person

Meeting:

TuTh 11:20 AM - 12:35 PM
Location: Law 111
From January 10, 2023
To April 20, 2023

Course Start: January 10, 2023
Course End: April 20, 2023

Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 14
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 17
As of: 08/24 11:03 PM


This is an application-based litigation writing class with a focus on building and honing fundamental skills. Enrollment is limited to 16 students. If demand exceeds capacity, then I will admit students who, for one reason or another, have struggled with legal writing and analysis. That reason could be related to demands external to school, the pressures of law school, past academic or personal experiences, or one of many other reasons. The application is available here: https://forms.gle/f4JTcBdKeUnZMFQN8. I accept students on a rolling basis and the class typically fills up quickly.

The course will prepare students for the rigors of general civil litigation by providing an in-depth writing experience and individual feedback. The written assignments are designed to replicate and train students to handle real-life assignments typically encountered by junior litigators. Through the lens of legal writing, this course will enhance students' abilities to read and synthesize cases, formulate and organize effective legal arguments, and effectively edit written work. Students will produce several written assignments, including research emails, a client letter, and a persuasive brief. Writing assignments may involve initial drafts, instructor feedback, peer review, and final revisions.

We will review and practice legal research skills, but that is not the focus of the course. There is no oral argument component to this course. Grades will be assigned based on the quality of the written work, attendance, and in-class participation. Due to a health-related accommodation for the instructor, face coverings will be requested in this class even if the face covering requirement is otherwise lifted. Depending on the public health situation, it is also possible that this class will be conducted via Zoom instead of in-person.


Attendance at the first class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.


Prerequisites:
Legal Research and Writing 202.1A (or equivalent); Written and Oral Advocacy
202.1B (or equivalent); Civil Procedure

Requirements Satisfaction:

This class may be counted as either an Option 1 class (two Option 1 classes satisfy the J.D. writing requirement) or units from this class may count toward the J.D. Experiential Requirement. This class may count for both requirements if and only if a student is electing Option 1 and the student's other Option 1 class being used to satisfy the J.D. writing requirement is not being counted towards any other requirement.

Student Services is available to answer questions.


Exam Notes: (P) Final paper  
Course Category: Simulation Courses

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Readers:
No reader.

Books:
Required Books are in blue

  • Point Made
    Ross Guberman
    Edition: Second Edition
    Publisher: Oxford University Press
    ISBN: 9780199943852
    e-Book Available: Yes
    e-Book procurement note: Available through the Law Library, Lawcat Record - https://lawcat.berkeley.edu/record/379456?ln=en
    Price: $29.95
    Price Source: user provided

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