Advanced Courses
 Given the importance of research and writing to every lawyer's career, students should hone these skills in law school. The following five courses offer specialized instruction in various legal research and legal writing topics. Classes are often limited to 15 students, assuring individual attention for each student.
Advanced Legal Research
Advanced Legal Research is an intensive research class that takes place in a workshop-style setting. Students spend each class period learning how to use various resources in print and online, practicing research with those resources, and sharing their work with classmates. The course grade is based on several short research summaries, an open-book midterm, and a class presentation. This course is typically offered in the fall semester.
Drafting
 This course gives students the opportunity to draft a range of documents, including client letters, contract provisions, and legislation. The class meets in two-hour blocks during most weeks. For one month in the middle of the semester, students will meet instead with a research librarian and work on a more substantial drafting project, such as a motion for summary judgment. Students will be graded on a final portfolio of their work. The Drafting class will satisfy the Skills Requirement. This course is being offered Spring 2010.
Intensive Writing
Intensive Writing is offered frequently during the summer term. This three-credit course covers office memos, contracts, legislation, and other real-world writing experiences. Class size is limited, ensuring plenty of individual guidance and feedback.
Judicial Writing
This course will teach the process of writing judicial opinions. Each student will draft both a majority and a dissenting opinion. Classes will cover such topics as the structure of opinions, the purpose of opinions, standards of review, how judges decide cases, and the styles of various judges in writing opinions.
The role of the law clerk will also be considered, making this course especially attractive to students who hope to have judicial externships during law school or judicial clerkships afterward. Guest presentations by judges and law clerks are planned. This course is being offered for the first time during the Spring 2010 semester.
Scholarly Writing
This Scholarly Writing Seminar is intended for students who wish to complete the Writing Requirement in a collaborative environment. The seminar will introduce scholarly writing in a systematic way (from topic selection to final editing) so that students learn a process for producing compelling, cohesive writing. During the semester, students will also meet with a professor knowledgeable in the student's area of research, and the student's final paper will be submitted to that professor for a final grade. The class will be limited to 10 students.
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