Courses such as Advanced Legal Research, Legal Research Skills for Practice, and the Law Firm Research Seminar teach students how to better evaluate and select sources, develop and implement appropriate research strategies, and conduct research on a range of complex legal topics. In addition, students may take courses that focus on legal scholarship in particular fields such as Research Skills in International and Comparative Law.

Writing courses such as Advanced Legal Writing and Practice for Judicial Clerks and Civil Litigators and the Advanced Legal Writing Seminar develop the students’ ability to draft a greater variety of practice-based documents in an effective and efficient manner. Advanced students draft more complex internal office memoranda and motions, memoranda in support of dispositive motions, briefs, client letters, and opinions.

Students interested in transactional practice may enroll in one of many commercial drafting courses such as Working on a Deal: Analytical, Negotiation, and Drafting Challenges and Writing for Practice: Corporations. These courses assist students in developing the core drafting, analytical and negotiating skills needed by lawyers who deal with complex commercial transactions.