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Title: Academic Legal Writing: Law Review Articles, Student Notes, and Seminar Papers by Eugene Volokh ISBN: 1-58778-477-7 Publisher: Foundation Press Pub. Date: 03 May, 2003 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $18.95

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Average Customer Rating: 5 (3 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: I only wish this had come out a year sooner
Comment: If only I'd read this book before joining a law journal, perhaps my Note would have turned out as something I would actually want to publish, instead of the rambling mess I actually ended up writing.

Volokh breaks down the process of writing an academic legal paper and offers sound advice for every step of the way. He applies an analytical approach to testing a proposal, adapted from his software background, and advice for choosing a solid proposal based on patent law's tenets (novel, nonobvious, etc.). His chapters on correct use of evidence are a refreshing BS antidote, especially considering some of the excuses for "support" of arguments that I've seen in a frightening number of submitted articles. Volokh expands the relevance of his book by also including chapters on seminar papers and on reviewing others' legal writing.

I liked it so much that our law journal purchased a few copies of this book for the coming academic year: we're making self-study lesson plans based on it to help 2L members with their note-writing process, and I'll ask all board members to refer to it when evaluating the final products at the end of the year. When I showed it to the other journal editors at my school, they all bought a few copies too. Volokh has even provided some helpful teaching aids on the book's web site, including Powerpoint slides and exercises.

Thanks for a fine resource, Professor.

Rating: 5
Summary: A Must Read
Comment: I highly recommend Professor Volokh's new book, Academic Legal Writing: Law Review Articles, Student Notes, and Seminar Papers.

As the title suggests, it focuses primarily on legal writing, especially for aspiring and current law school students. However, anyone who wants to improve his/her writing and critical thinking skills should read this book. The book--which is only 189 pages--abounds in smart advice on how to write better and avoid common errors such as wordiness, unduly harsh criticism, overly technical language, etc.

Speaking as someone who starts law school in a month and a half, I am glad I read this book. It gave me a nice view about what type of writing is expected in law school. And unlike some academic books, it is affordable and highly readable.

Volokh addresses every possible question that a pre-law student could have about academic legal writing--how to choose a topic, how to test its claim or hypothesis, how to research it, how to use evidence (i.e., cases, law review articles, statistics, surveys, etc) correctly, and how even to publish and market your work.

To take one example: Volokh advises that in the process of conducting research always check the original source. In other words, do not simply assume that a secondary source will correctly represent the original article or case. For example, even the most revered Courts (such as the Supreme Court of the United States) sometimes misstate facts, arguments, and holdings in cases.

I can personally attest to the soundness of this advice. I once cited an article by a political science professor of mine in a paper I wrote for him. I relied on a secondary source to summarize his main thesis. When my professor graded the paper, he circled in red ink the citation of his work and wrote, This is not the argument I made. Did you bother to read the article?

Again, this is a great book for anyone considering law school. It should be on every pre-law student's must-read list.

Rating: 5
Summary: Volokh is a Genius
Comment: Eugene Volokh is a genius--well, maybe not a genius--almost nobody is a genius--but he's pretty darn smart.

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