Guides and Handouts

If you need an accessible version of any of the documents below, please contact lawhelp@georgetown.edu.

Assessing Legal Authority

A Guide to Reading, Interpreting and Applying Statutes
A Guide to the Basics of International Law
Federal Law, Federal Courts and Binding and Persuasive Authority
Which Court is Binding

Bluebook Citation

Differences in Citation in Scholarly and Practitioner Legal Writing
Bluebook Signals Explained
Citations to International Agreements, Cases and Arbitration Under Bluebook Rule 21
Everything You Wanted to Know that the Bluebook Does Not Tell You Clearly
Introduction to Bluebooking: Some Basic But Confusing Rules
Parentheticals
Bluebook Rule 18: Citation to Internet and Electronic Resources under the Bluebook
Some Common and Obscure Bluebook Rules or How to Really Impress Even the Most Exacting Bluebooker

Grammar and Style

Crafting Mid-Level Organization
Concise is Nice
Ten Rules of Grammar and Usage that You Should Know
Guiding Legal Readers Through Your Legal Document
Tips for Effective Organization
Tips for Effective Punctuation in Legal Writing

International Law

A Guide to the Basics of International Law
Citations to International Agreements, Cases and Arbitration Under Bluebook Rule 21

Judicial Writing

The Appellate Court Bench Memorandum
In Chambers: Effective Writing Tips for the Judicial Interns and Law Clerks
The Trial Court Bench Memorandum

Legal Analysis

Creating Effective Rule Statements
A Guide to Reading, Interpreting and Applying Statutes
Guiding Legal Readers Through Your Legal Thought
How to Craft an Effective Case Comparison
Identifying and Understanding Standards of Review
Persuasive Writing
Using Cases in Legal Analysis
Using Secondary Sources and Persuasive Authority
What do you Mean What Do You Mean “There’s More than One Way to Do It”? Legal Analysis and the Rhetorical Setting

Legal Research

The Art and Craft of Strategic Legal Research
Legal Research Resources at GULC and Beyond
A Guide to the Basics of International Law
Using Secondary Sources and Persuasive Authority
You Have Your Topic, Now Get the Research Done
Researching for Administrative Law Internship

Oral Advocacy

May It Please the Court: Oral Arguments in Law School
May It Please the Court: Additional Thoughts on Oral Argument

Persuasive Writing

From Memo to Appellate Brief
Persuasive Issue Statements
Persuasive Writing
Writing the Statement of the Case in an Appellate Brief
Writing Effective Point Headings
Writing for Trials
Writing for Trial: The Motions in Limine

Scholarly Writing

Checklist for Scholarly Writing
Choosing a Successful Paper Topic
Creating a Good Scholarly Paper
Developing a Thesis Statement
Introductions and Conclusions for Scholarly Papers
“Righting” the Write On Competition
Strategies for Outlining Your Scholarly Paper
The Home Stretch: Revising and Polishing the Scholarly Paper
Tips for Getting Your Scholarly Paper Published
Turning your First Draft of a Seminar Paper into a Final Draft
You Have Your Topic, Now Get the Research Done

Transactional Writing

Tips for Achieving Clarity in Contract Drafting

Writing for Practice

How to Write a Client Advice Letter
Emailing Professionally
How to Handle an Assignment at your Summer Job
In Chambers: Effective Writing Tips for the Judicial Interns and Law Clerks

Writing Checklists, Process, and Tips

Checklist for the Fall Legal Research and Writing Exam
Checklist for Scholarly Writing
Checklist for the Client Letter or Memo
Checklist for the Writing Process
Checklist for the First Year Writing Process
Crafting Mid-Level Organization
Concise is Nice
Final Exam Tips
Getting the Most Out of Your First Draft
Formatting a Legal Document in Microsoft Word
Just Do It – Tips for Avoiding Procrastination
Outlining Tips and Techniques for Class
Outlining for Exams
Tips and Techniques for Taking Notes in Class
Ten Tips for Transitioning to Legal Writing
Tips for Effective Organization
Tips for Effective Punctuation in Legal Writing
Turning your First Draft of a Seminar Paper into a Final Draft
Writer’s Block and How to Work Through It

Writing for Law School Classes

Final Exam Tips
Tips and Techniques for Taking Notes in Class
Outlining Tips and Techniques for Class
Outlining for Exams

Writing Samples and Cover Letters

Building a Writing Portfolio
Choosing the Right Writing Sample
Government Cover Letters
Revising and Preparing a Writing Sample
Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Writing Samples
Writing a Judicial Clerkship Cover Letter
Writing Samples for Public Interest Positions