Research and Writing Seminar
All LL.M.’s take a fall semester two-credit Legal Research and Writing seminar, specifically designed to introduce foreign lawyers to the basic principles of American legal writing. In small class settings and individual conferences, students receive guidance on drafting and editing memoranda and agreements. Their work is critiqued and rewritten. The research component of the seminar trains students to locate cases, statutes and secondary material through indexing systems and the latest computer technology. Research assignments are integrated into writing assignments -- exposing students to the methods of US legal analyses -- so that by the end of the term, students obtain the skills needed to write memoranda appropriate for submission to US law firms
The LL.M. Writing Seminar will be supervised by Professor Robert Volk, the Director of the First Year Writing Program. His office, as well as the Writing Program office, is located in Room 752.
BOOKS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Writing seminar classes will begin the week of September 7, one week after your other classes begin, and will meet most weeks during the first semester.
A. Booklist
- Bouchoux, Aspen handbook for Legal Writers (2d ed. 2009)
- Sloan, Basic Legal Research (4th ed. 2009)
- The Bluebook, A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed. 2005)
In addition, Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, is recommended for the class.
B. Schedules
Writing Seminars will begin the week of September 7. Note that Monday, September 7 is a holiday; Monday seminars will be rescheduled for that week. Seminar schedules will be posted each week on the web site for the class (JD 893).
C. Notices
All notices regarding the Writing Program will be posted on BU’s CourseInfo site and on the 7th floor bulletin boards. The course number is JD893 (Writing LLMs). LL.M.’s are responsible for checking for information about class schedules, room changes, assignments, messages from instructors, and other assignments.
D. Assignments for the first class
For the first class, please read Bouchoux, ch. 4 and Appendix B
SCHEDULE
| SECTION | DAY | TIME | ROOM | INSTRUCTOR |
| 1 | MONDAY* | 12:50-2:05PM | 1470B | Alexis Hamdan |
| 2 | MONDAY* | 6:00-7:15PM | 620 | Christine Durkin |
| 3 | TUESDAY | 2:30-3:45PM | 1470A | Judith Ziss |
| 4 | TUESDAY | 7:00-8:15PM | 1434 | Marni Caputo |
| 5 | WEDNESDAY | 11:30-12:45PM | 920B | Joan Neisser |
| 6 | WEDNESDAY | 7:30-8:45PM | 532 | Selena Fitanides |
| 7 | THURSDAY | 7:00-8:15PM | 1470C | Nadine Donovan |
| 8 | THURSDAY | 7:30-8:45PM | 734 | Ingrid Houghton |
*Note: Since Monday, September 7th is a holiday, there will be no classes and Sections 1 and 2 will begin on the following dates:
- Section 1: the first class meeting of this seminar will be Wednesday, September 9th at 1PM to 2:15PM in Room 734.
- Section 2: the first class meeting of this seminar will be Wednesday, September 9th at 6PM to 7:15PM in Room 820.
REQUIRED LIBRARY, LEXIS NEXIS, & WESTLAW TRAININGS
All LL.M. and visiting exchange students are required to to attend an informational tour of the library, as well as attend mandatory Lexis Nexis and WestLaw trainings. These trainings have been coordinated in conjuction with your Research and Writing Seminar courses. You are required to attend the trainings that correspond to your specific Research and Writing section. All trainings will be conducted in the Law Library.
In addition to the required library tour, Lexis Nexis, and Westlaw trainings, all ALP, IP and visiting foreign exchange students will be required to attend a mandatory "Introduction to Legal Sources" training on Friday, September 11th at 3PM (following the Intro to American Law course meeting). Additionally, all students will be required to attend a Writing Workshop to be held during the fall semester (TBD at a later date).
Please note: If you are unable to attend a library tour or Lexis Nexis/Westlaw session because of a scheduling conflict, you must contact Karina Condra at kcondra@bu.edu to arrange to attend a makeup session.
Library Orientation Tours (45 minutes): Tours begin in Room 334, 3rd floor of the Law Tower.
| SECTION | DATE OF LIBRARY TOUR |
| 1 | September 10, 1:00 PM |
| 2 | September 10, 2:00 PM |
| 3 | September 9, 3:00 PM |
| 4 | September 18, 1:30 PM |
| 5 | September 18, 2:30 PM |
| 6 | September 18, 3:30 PM |
| 7 | September 9, 1:00 PM |
| 8 | September 9, 2:00 PM |
Introduction to Legal Sources (45 minutes): In Room 620, following the Intro to American Law course on September 11th.
| SECTION | INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL SOURCES |
| ALL SECTIONS | September 11, 3:00 PM |
Lexis/Nexis and Westlaw Trainings (45 minutes): Trainings take place in Room 312, 3rd floor of the Law Tower.
| SECTION | LEXIS/NEXIS TRAINING | WESTLAW TRAINING |
| 1 | October 8, 1:00 PM | October 1, 1:00 PM |
| 2 | October 8, 2:00 PM | October 1, 2:00 PM |
| 3 | October 8, 3:00 PM | October 1, 3:00 PM |
| 4 | October 9, 12:00 PM | October 2, 12:00 PM |
| 5 | October 9, 2:45 PM | October 2, 1:00 PM |
| 6 | October 9, 3:45 PM | October 2, 2:00 PM |
| 7 | October 5, 1:00 PM | October 7, 1:00 PM |
| 8 | October 5, 2:00 PM | October 7, 2:00 PM |
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to attend an orientation session or Lexis/Westlaw session because of a scheduling conflict, you must contact Karina Condra at kcondra@bu.edu to arrange to attend a makeup session.