Legal Research, Analysis & Writing

LRAW Home Instructional Videos

Legal Research, Analysis & Writing (LRAW) is a core component of the first year law school curriculum that integrates essential skills necessary for the practice of law. In LRAW-1 (Fall) students learn the basic methods of researching state statutes and case law. Students also learn how to analyze those statutes and cases, how to identify and understand legal rules derived from those authorities, and how to apply those rules to make informed predictions about legal issues. Students learn how to convey legal analysis clearly and concisely and how to draft a legal prediction in the form of a memorandum of law. In LRAW-2 (Spring), students build on their basic research, analytical, and writing skills to learn how to research federal statutes and cases, regulations, and secondary sources. Students also learn the skills of persuasive writing and argumentation through the preparation of an appellate brief and oral argument.

The Legal Research, Analysis & Writing (LRAW) classes are co-taught by our Legal Research and Writing Instructors.

The Legal Research Instructors are Duncan Alford, Terrye Conroy, Alyson Drake, Matt Gissendanner, Rebekah Maxwell, and Pamela Melton.

The Legal Writing Instructors are Janice M. Baker, Elizabeth Dalzell, Ami Leventis, John D. Luthy, Amy Milligan and Michael J. Virzi.

Each class within a 1L section is assigned student Legal Research & Writing Assistants. For 2012-13, the Legal Research & Writing Assistants are as follows:

Section 1

Baker-Conroy Classes
Legal Research & Writing Assistants: Sara Svedberg [Email] and Jamie Steele [Email]

Luthy-Melton Classes
Legal Research & Writing Assistants: Ryan Grover [Email] and Kassie Moore [Email]

Section 2

Leventis-Alford Classes
Legal Research & Writing Assistants: Matt Vlasman [Email] and Daniel Craig [Email]

Milligan-Gissendanner Classes
Legal Research & Writing Assistants: Tara McCall [Email] and Lisle Traywick [Email]

Section 3

Dalzell-Drake Classes
Legal Research & Writing Assistants: Ashley Robertson [Email] and Jennifer Routh [Email]

Virzi-Maxwell Classes
Legal Research & Writing Assistants: Sarah Parker [Email] and Allison Powell Email]

Assignment for Beginning of the School Year: Please complete this Short Lesson on Sources of Law, Court Systems, and Case Briefs before Orientation. The lesson ends by asking you to draft a brief of a case. If you would like feedback on your case brief, you may submit it to your Legal Writing Instructor at the first meeting of your Legal Writing class.