Program Overview

The Legal Writing Program is based on a few foundation principles:

First, it strives for long-term learning, not just how to write any given document. Consequently, it focuses on the process lawyers go through as they research, analyze, and write so that students can use that process to solve other legal problems.

Second, faculty believe that the best curriculum is one in which each assignment builds on what was learned before and introduces new concepts and skills. Carefully sequenced assignments allow students to practice and master critical research and writing skills.

Lastly, faculty provide extensive feedback on assignment drafts. Students have the opportunity to revise drafts to create even better final products and to apply the feedback to other parts of the assignment.

The program follows an established curriculum.

Teaching with Technology

The legal writing faculty at Seattle University is on the cutting edge in its use of technology both in and outside the classroom.

Each classroom is equipped with a state-of-the-art system that allows faculty to show CDs and videos and to project computer screens and all types of paper documents. In addition, classrooms have both high-speed and wireless Internet. Students can e-mail drafts to their professor for immediate projection and can actively participate with their professor in online legal research sessions.

Outside of class, critiquing and grading is done electronically: students submit their assignments as e-mail attachments, professors insert comments directly into the electronic versions of the documents, and then return the assignments to students. Furthermore, every legal writing class has its own Web site, used to upload assignment sheets and handouts, to link to useful Web sites, and to schedule student conferences

Legal Writing Scholarships

Seattle University has demonstrated its commitment to legal writing by offering four legal writing scholarships: The Mark Reutlinger Excellence in Legal Writing Scholarship, the Cheney Legal Writing Scholarship, and two Metzger Legal Writing Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to second-year students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in their first-year legal writing course.

Moot Court

Students enrolled in the fall semester Legal Writing II course are eligible to participate in the Fredric C. Tausend competition, which is used to select Seattle University’s National Moot Court teams. Students enrolled in the spring semester Legal Writing II courses are eligible to participate in the James E. Bond competition, which is used to select the members of the ABA Moot Court teams.

Since it started sending teams to the American Bar Association’s Appellate competition in 2004, Seattle University School of Law teams have reached the regional finals every year. In 2006-2007, the law school’s ABA team was a regional finalist with a fourth-place brief and best oralist honors and reached the final nine in the national competition. In 2003-2004, the law school’s National Moot Court team won the regional competition, won best brief and best oralist at the regional competition, and reached the final eight in the national competition