First-Year Program
Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing
IThe first-year Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing (LARW) Program is designed
to teach students foundational principles about the American legal system and
introduce the skills they will need to serve as effective counselors and
advocates in that system. Every LARW section helps students meet these
goals and objectives.
In Autumn and Winter Quarters, students are assigned to small class sections.
Each faculty member develops a series of problems and hands-on workshops
designed to teach analysis, research, and writing skills. In addition to working
closely with faculty, students draw upon upper-division Legal Writing Fellows to
facilitate their transition from novice to expert in the legal writing
discipline. All students engage in a variety of research and writing projects
over the first two quarters, including drafting various forms of research
memoranda. Students may also have opportunities to draft judicial bench
memoranda or opinions, client letters, contract clauses, or legal pleadings. In
Spring Quarter, students focus on the art and skill of persuasive legal writing.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Many first-year students choose to participate in extra-curricular
moot court
competitions, including mock trial, contract negotiation, client counseling,
and appellate advocacy. In addition, many legal writing competitions are open to
first-year law students.