Legal Writing

Understanding the fundamentals

Good lawyers know the law. Great lawyers know the law and how to put it to work for their clients and employers. Our ten full-time faculty teach legal writing in collaboration with ten experienced law practitioners from around the country, cultivating skills foundational to both understanding the law and representing clients effectively and responsibly.

Mitchell Hamline requires two first-year legal writing courses. In Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication (LARC) I, taken during the first semester, students learn to identify legal issues in a fact pattern, perform legal research, analyze statutes and cases, predict the probable outcome of a legal dispute, and to communicate their legal analysis orally and in writing. In LARC II, taken during the second semester, students refine their research skills, learn the fundamentals of oral and written advocacy, and deepen their ability to communicate with diverse audiences. During both semesters, faculty provide frequent oral and written feedback and multiple opportunities for individual and team conferences.