Off and Running: A Practical Guide to Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing

Off and Running is a unique text for the first semester of the 1L legal writing and research course, designed to guide students through their development of the essential skills needed to practice law. Using a single, classroom-tested fact pattern, the authors demonstrate in concrete steps how a first-year associate might approach a legal problem. Students practice these steps and skills on other fact patterns, as they read about this fictional associate. Using this fresh approach and a plain-English writing style, the authors introduce essential concepts and skills related to objective legal writing and legal research, with a particular emphasis on the professional and ethical representation of clients. Students learn how to think like a lawyer. Features: Fully integrated coursebook for first semester of 1L LRW course. Integrates research, analysis, and writing. Emphasis on how skills relate to the practice of law, with focus on both litigation and transactional applications.