LAW 5142: Legal Writing for the Transactional Lawyer - 2211

This course will introduce students to the craft of drafting transactional agreements. This course is meant to fill a void that currently exists between formal law school education and actual work as a practicing attorney. Oftentimes, the first experience that young transactional lawyers have with drafting agreements follows a familiar pattern – the young lawyer is given a form as a starting point, then asked to make changes to the form to "draft" the needed document. The young lawyer may successfully edit the party names and dates, but usually has little understanding of the rest of the agreement or even the basic business terms that the agreement must memorialize. Unfortunately, the realities of modern law practice may preclude inexperienced drafters from taking the time to properly hone their craft. This course will prepare students for entering a transactional practice by allowing students to practice drafting and editing agreements, examine strategies for avoiding ambiguities by crafting precise language, and work in a fast paced, team-oriented environment.