With clear explanations, examples, and visual aids, The Legal Research and Writing Handbook, Eighth Edition by Andrea Yelin and Hope Viner Samborn offers complete coverage of a complex subject in a student-friendly, accessible text. In this thoroughly updated new edition, the authors continue to keep pace with legal research, citation, and technology in today’s law firms. This practical text focuses on efficient research processes and techniques for both traditional and electronic sources, along with step-by-step instruction through each stage of the legal writing process, from prewriting strategies, to revising. The text is enhanced with examples and visual aids, expert writing and practice tips, hands-on exercises, ethics alerts, up-to-date web resources, and easy-to-navigate page design. Excellent exercises are provided to reinforce student learning. Key Features: Updated and expanded coverage of electronic resources reflecting how paralegals do research today Detailed discussion of how to use legal authorities in legal communications and how to synthesize them and present them to attorneys Examples, exhibits, practical tips, updated exercises, and web resources in every chapter Expanded discussion of e-mail and e-memos In-depth coverage of the IRAC method, as well as how to write legal memoranda and legal correspondence

Both brief and accessible, this legal writing text carefully guides paralegal students through the entire writing process -- from the beginning stages To The final product. Along the way, students will find authoritative coverage of such key topics as briefing cases, legal memoranda, witness statements, file summaries, deposition summaries, and persuasive writings such as complaints and answers. Some features of special interest include: step-by-step guidance on drafting documents; a strong focus on the writing basics, such as grammar, sentence structure, and clarity; solid pedagogical features, such as chapter overviews, chapter summaries, key terms, and exercises; numerous examples of both good and bad writing; and an outstanding Instructor's Manual to accompany the text. Basic Legal Writing for Paralegals begins with the basics of the legal system--carefully walking students through the writing process. The book's focus then turns to writing basics and briefing cases before dedicating several chapters to legal memoranda, where students are guided through the process of writing an accurate and effective memo. The authors then cover persuasive writings--concentrating on drafting such documents as complaints and answers. Finally, The book discusses specialized documents frequently drafted by paralegals, including witness statements, file summaries, deposition summaries, and deposition abstracts. With the help of this book, you'll teach your students how to convey the result of research in written documents, articulate legal concepts to convey information and answer questions, and craft persuasive arguments.

With legal research and writing covered in one text, authors Yelin and Samborn have tailored their presentation to the specifics paralegals need to know. They effectively introduce paralegal students to the essential skills and strategies necessary to do legal research, analytical skills for understanding their research, and drafting skills for creating legal documents. Notable features: -- the book is written and designed to be particularly accessible to paralegal students -- pedagogically sound, each chapter of the book offers: -- chapter overviews -- detailed headings to make it easy to find information -- sample documents -- review questions -- the accompanying workbook offers many opportunities for students to practice their research and writing skills Special features of the Second Edition: -- a chapter on the Internet includes a discussion of legal research sources on-line -- coverage reflecting recent changes in the legal publishing world -- materials to help students better understand the research process -- the authors explicitly highlight the relationship between research and writing -- enhanced design offers greater accessibility -- there are chapters on research strategy, pre-writing issues, and process writing and revising

The separate Student Workbook gives students extensive practice in professional-level research and writing skills. Designed to coordinate with The Legal Research and Writing Handbook, each chapter includes basic concepts, questions, and applications that teach students to solve research and writing problems.