Lawyering and Legal Reasoning

Our Lawyering and Legal Reasoning (LLR) courses for first-year students provide practical experience in legal research, analysis and writing. 

In two semester-long courses, students learn how to analyze various kinds of legal issues in a rigorous, methodical and logical way. Students practice issue identification, legal research, and analysis in the context of objective writing (office memos) in the fall and persuasive writing (trial court motions and appellate briefs) in the spring.  While students are learning foundational principles of common law and procedure in other first-year courses, in LLR courses they do their own research to find applicable rules and they practice applying those rules to specific fact patterns to answer legal questions. With assistance from selected upper-class students, LLR Instructors review drafts, provide small-group and individual conferences, and give individualized comments on written assignments throughout each semester.  

Through small-section instruction, consistent practice, and frequent feedback, the LLR program seeks to give students a solid foundation in legal reasoning and legal writing that will help them learn how to think, and write, like lawyers.

"LLR provided me with practical opportunities to hone my skills. Most importantly, LLR equipped me with the tools necessary to be successful during summer clerkships and after graduation." - J.D. Marsh '16 

Caruthers Fellows

The Caruthers Fellows, chosen by the LLR faculty, are second- or third-year students who serve as mentors and assist first-year students with the development of research, writing and other basic skills.