Writing: Federal Litigation
This two-credit-hour advanced writing course will help prepare students for the writing challenges specific to litigating large federal cases. Writing assignments will all surround one hypothetical matter involving a federal statute, and potentially common law issues. Students will be required to complete four writing assignments: a client letter; a complaint or responsive pleading, a discovery request or response to a discovery request, and a motion for summary judgment and memorandum of law in support of that motion. Students will be divided into plaintiffs and defendants, and paired for the exchange of materials. All assignments except the final cross motions for summary judgment will be submitted responsively (i.e., the plaintiffs will submit their complaints, and the following week the defendants will submit their answers). Coursework will involve research, preparation of initial drafts and final revisions of documents, instructor feedback, and peer review of written materials. The course will culminate in oral argument on the cross motions for summary judgment, which will be taped and critiqued by other faculty, judges, and/or members of the bar.
Please note that course organization and content may vary substantially from semester to semester and descriptions are not necessarily professor specific. Please contact the instructor directly if you have particular course-related questions.
Sections/Instructors
Allison G. Kort
Writing: Federal Litigation 789.01
Spring 2010