Upper Class Writing Requirement

The upper class writing requirement assures that students refine the research and writing skills they learned in the first year. In conjunction with this requirement, students conduct sustained, in-depth research in a chosen subject area and produce thoughtful, original analysis in a complex, evolving area of law.

Students choose topics, submit outlines, prepare and submit a first draft, and complete their final papers in consultation with faculty members. Working on the paper challenges students to hone their research skills, engage in complex legal analysis, develop and a test a thesis or argument, gain mastery over a specific topic, and enhance the clarity and precision of their writing — all components of the art of legal writing that are valued in practice regardless of the field that the student might pursue.

A broad array of seminars that meet the writing requirement are offered, including such diverse selections as the Tax Policy Seminar, O’Neill Colloquium on National and Global Health Law, Food Law Seminar, Advanced Patent Law Seminar, and Constitutional Aspects of Foreign Affairs Seminar.