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Applications for this project will open on
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Creating an Objective Legal Memo

Learn how to draft a legal memorandum like a lawyer, that showcases objective legal analysis and conclusions.

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Apply now
Fridays
 at
7:00
P.M.
 ET /
4:00
P.M.
PT
8 weeks, 2-3 hours per week
Beginner
No experience required
No experience required
Some experience required
Degree and experience required

Description

There are two forms of writing most used within the legal industry: objective legal writing and persuasive legal writing. Whether in a law firm or in-house legal team, a necessary skill for all lawyers is the ability to draft an objective legal memorandum, in which a legal question is answered objectively, with all sides and possibilities looked at. In this Build Project, you will wear the hat of an entry level lawyer and will learn how to formulate a research strategy when presented with a legal question that needs answering, how to find and analyze the laws relevant to your search, and finally, how to write this analysis down for your legal or non-legal audience to understand.

Session timeline

  • Applications open
    January 16, 2024
  • Application deadline
    February 18, 2025
  • Project start date
    Week of July 8, 2024
    Week of
    March 10, 2025
  • Project end date
    Week of

What you will learn

  • Create a generalized legal research strategy to use in any area of law.
  • Analyze laws and apply that analysis to form legal conclusions.
  • Write a formal legal memo.

Project workshops

1
Introduction to US Legal System
2
Intro to Legal Research
3
Intro to Legal Research Part 2
4
Research Strategies - Analyzing Statutes
5
Research Strategies – Analyzing Cases
6
Legal Writing
7
Other Memo Sections and Citations
8
Memo Writing Review and Presentations

Prerequisites

  • Basic critical thinking skills.
  • Basic research and writing skills.
  • Ability to read long documents.
  • An interest in the legal industry.
  • Basic familiarity with Microsoft Word.

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About the expert
Nkechi Nnachetta is a Law Build Fellow at Open Avenues, where she works with students leading projects in the legal field. Nkechi previously worked as a bankruptcy lawyer at Glast, Phillips & Murray, where she focused on conducting legal research and drafting pleadings for bankruptcy proceedings. Nkechi has over a year of experience in the legal field. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Bankruptcy from St. John’s University School of Law, a Juris Doctor (J.D..) degree from Georgetown University Law Center, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Indianapolis. A fun fact about Nkechi is that she is an avid crocheter.
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