The Law Library provides access to three major study aid platforms: Aspen Learning Library, LexisNexis Digital Library, and West Academic. There are multiple links to the various platforms on the Law Library's website. Regent Law users will be prompted for RU login. Each platform allows users to register for an individual account that will enable saving favorites, making notes, and adding highlights. Each platform also offers offline reading and listening options.
The Aspen Learning Library consists of digital study aids with full-text search, note-taking, and highlighting capabilities, audio recordings, and digital media. Study Aid titles included in this collection include:
The LexisNexis Digital Library allows you to read eBooks online and download an app for offline reading. Study aid include:
The West Academic Study Aids Collection offers online access to popular study aids, audiobooks and lectures, and a variety of academic and career success eBooks. The platform includes:
A Lawyer Writes
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For class planning purposes, instructors may find a brief list of changes from the third edition of A Lawyer Writes here. Like the popular earlier editions, the fourth edition of A Lawyer Writes puts the reader in the place of a first-year attorney faced with real-life assignments. In doing so, it teaches law students not only how to succeed in law school, but also how to succeed in the practice of law. Using graphics and visual samples that demonstrate both effective and ineffective analytical techniques, this updated edition illustrates best practices for objective legal analysis and provides an overview of the transition from objective to persuasive writing. The content and examples in the fourth edition have been supplemented, updated, and reorganized to provide an easy-to-use, step-by-step approach for learning legal analysis and objective writing. A Lawyer Writes aims to provide clear and concrete instruction about each facet of legal analysis, using the same order students will follow when performing the tasks in legal practice. The textbook also provides the relevant theory and background behind the choices attorneys make in their legal writing, enabling students to transfer those techniques to future settings. Speaking to its readers in a straightforward manner, A Lawyer Writes communicates essential skills and theories students can use throughout a lifetime of legal practice.
An Advocate Persuades
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Click here to view a side by side comparison of the first and second editions. The second edition of An Advocate Persuades is reorganized into four parts: (1) Introduction to Advocacy; (2) Developing Arguments from a Persuasive Perspective; (3) Constructing Persuasive Court Documents (both at the trial and appellate level); and (4) Oral Argument (both at the trial and appellate level). The book also has an expanded appendix, which provides an overview of trial and appellate litigation in both civil and criminal cases, annotated trial and appellate briefs, and advice about moot court competitions. The book''s first part, an Introduction to Advocacy, provides an overview of the nature of persuasion generally and the core ethical standards that an advocate is required to follow. The second part focuses on the heart of persuasive advocacy--developing persuasive arguments. This part provides easy-to-follow, step-by-step advice that students can rely on whether they are drafting a trial motion or appellate brief. The advice is provided in five chapters: Chapter 3, Organizing Claims and Arguments; Chapter 4, Themes for Persuasive Arguments; Chapter 5, Drafting Persuasive Arguments; Chapter 6, Refining Persuasive Arguments; and Chapter 7, Editing Persuasive Arguments. The content in these chapters has been significantly revised to provide detailed coverage in a practical and accessible format. The chapters incorporate lists, checklists, graphics, charts, and updated, annotated examples to aid students'' understanding of the concepts and theories described. The third part, Constructing Persuasive Court Documents, describes the court documents through which attorneys present their persuasive arguments. It starts with Chapter 8, Trial Motions & Motion Practice, which focuses on trial practice, trial court motions, and supporting memoranda. Chapter 9, Appellate Briefs & Appellate Practice, introduces readers to the world of appellate courts by explaining the appellate process, the relevant players, standards of review, and how to draft various components of the appellate brief. Finally, Chapter 10, Statements of Fact and of the Case, describes how to construct a persuasive recitation of facts, focusing on which facts to include and how to present them in the light most favorable to the drafter''s client. Each chapter provides numerous annotated examples, allowing the reader to see both effective and ineffective techniques. The fourth part, Oral Argument, now consists of five subsections designed to demystify the process of oral argument. These sections provide students the step-by-step guidance they need whether arguing before a trial or appellate court. The five sections are (1) The Purpose of Oral Argument; (2) Preparing for Oral Argument; (3) Presenting Oral Argument; (4) Trial Courts vs. Appellate Courts; and (5) Remote Oral Arguments. The newly created fifth section provides students with instruction and practical advice for presenting oral argument remotely. The second edition of An Advocate Persuades aims to provide clear and concrete instruction about each facet of the persuasive writing and oral argument process in a logical order consistent with how an advocate will typically perform the tasks. The text''s practical approach to theory, coupled with insightful examples, will enable readers to transfer their understanding to real-life legal settings. With straightforward advice, informative graphics, and an accessible layout, this text will be useful both to students in the classroom and to lawyers already in legal practice. A teaching website for this book is available. If you are a professor, you may request the link and login information by emailing erin@cap-press.com.
Effective Appellate Advocacy
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This text is designed for both law students and lawyers. Analysis begins by over-viewing the appellate process including factors to consider before appealing. Ethics of advocacy as informed by the Model Rules with internet sites provide the latest information. Sound persuasive theory is developed. Preparation for and writing the opening, answering, and reply briefs, including examples follows. Preparation and presentation of the oral argument with examples concludes the appeal and post-argument procedures such as post-argument memos and petition for rehearing. Closing the case after appeal concludes the text.
Lawyers, Clients and Narrative
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This book is a new primary text for use by the full panoply of experiential courses, including clinical, externship, legal writing, practical, interviewing, negotiation, counseling, and trial/appellate advocacy. Using multimedia examples, including the podcast Serial, as well as exercises drawn from actual lawyering situations, this book describes, explores, and analyzes narrative as a pedagogy of lawyering. The book addresses the broad spectrum of skills and practice areas and fora that the profession increasingly demands. This is a comprehensive book for using narrative, stories, and storytelling to develop more fully and effectively as a lawyer. The book provides the theory and information for planning for, conducting, and reflecting on various lawyering activities. In addition, the authors make the teaching relatable and transferable to a variety of contexts by using concrete examples drawn from their own extensive practice, writing, and teaching using lawyering and narrative.
Legal Argument
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Legal Argument: The Structure and Language of Effective Advocacy is a full-featured guide designed primarily for law students in research, writing, analysis, and trial advocacy classes and moot court programs. Inside you'll find detailed explanations of how lawyers construct legal arguments and practical guidelines to the process of molding the raw materials of litigation--cases, statutes, testimony, documents, common sense--into instruments of persuasive advocacy. You'll also find writing guidelines that show you how to present a well-constructed legal argument in writing in a way that legal decision makers will find persuasive. The centerpiece of this indispensable work is its syllogism-based step-by-step method, designed to walk the advocate through the process of crafting a winning argument. Intuitive organization presents the material in five parts: Part I sets out a general methodology for constructing legal arguments. Part II focuses more closely on the construction of persuasive, well-grounded legal premises, and covers the effective integration of legal doctrine and evidence into the argument's structure. Part III shows how to put the method to work by giving two detailed examples of the construction of complete legal arguments from scratch. Part IV provides a detailed protocol for reducing well-constructed legal arguments to written form, along with a concrete illustration of that process. It also provides concrete advice on how to recognize and avoid a host of common mistakes in the written presentation of legal arguments. Part V moves from the basics into more advanced techniques of persuasive legal argument, including rhetorical tactics like framing and emphasis, how to respond to arguments, maintaining professionalism in advocacy, and the ethical limits of argument.
Making Your Case
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In their professional lives, courtroom lawyers must do these two things well: speak persuasively and write persuasively. In this noteworthy book, two noted legal writers systematically present every important idea about judicial persuasion in a fresh, entertaining way. The book covers the essentials of sound legal reasoning, including how to develop the syllogism that underlies any argument. From there the authors explain the art of brief writing, especially what to include and what to omit, so that you can induce the judge to focus closely on your arguments. Finally, they show what it takes to succeed in oral argument.
Persuasive Legal Writing
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The Mindful Legal Writer: Mastering Persuasive Writing is designed to provide practical real-life context for the role of persuasive legal writing in authentic law practice. Students need to understand WHY lawyers write the way they do, and HOW the students own work product will be useful in real life by a supervising attorney, client, or judge. This book encapsulates ways to inject passion into teaching and learning persuasive legal writing, with the goal of empowering students to take ownership of their writing craft. The Mindful Legal Writer: Mastering Persuasive Writing offers best practices for presenting a legal argument in a logical, engaging, and ethical manner no matter what the assignment. Once students have mastered these fundamentals, they can learn how to add their own artistic flair.
A Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy
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Buy a new version of this textbook and receive access to the Connected eBook on CasebookConnect, including: lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities, plus an outline tool and other helpful resources. Connected eBooks provide what you need most to be successful in your law school classes. Learn more about Connected eBooks Mary Beth Beazley's highly regarded A Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy is a comprehensive student-focused guide to writing appellate briefs. Written in an understandable, direct writing style, this concise paperback's effective structure centers on a four-point approach to writing and breaks each point down into key elements that are then treated in-depth. New to the Fifth Edition: New bullets at the end of each chapter reviewing major takeaways Expanded coverage of research advice in Chapter 3, including discussion on Boolean searches A new chapter on using statutes in briefs, covering Reading statutes effectively Making statutory interpretation arguments Research techniques for statutory interpretation arguments Professors and students will benefit from: Student-friendly writing that is easy to read and understand Annotated examples - both good and bad - that help students understand why certain methods are effective Chapters on effective use of cases and statutes that address common problems experienced by students Numerous formulas that make learning and remembering easy: Creac Formula for effective topic sentences Formula for effective case descriptions ""Template"" formula for effective signals to the reader Teaching materials include: Powerpoints with effective examples and teaching notes Self-grading guidelines and examples of self-grading of effective and ineffective legal writing
Winning on Appeal
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When the late Ruggero J. Aldisert wrote Winning on Appeal in 1992, it became an instant classic in law school classrooms and appellate law practices across the country. To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the book's release, Tessa L. Dysart and Leslie H. Southwick carry on the Aldisert tradition of revealing the "nuts and bolts" of how to prepare an effective brief with the nuanced art of a delivering a persuasive appeal to the court. Their meticulously rendered update is replete with dozens of interviews with leading appeals judges and practitioners--treasured guidance from a bona fide who's who of appellate advocacy in America--and escorts readers into the "wired" courtroom of the twenty-first century, where they explore the benefits and challenges of melding technology with appellate advocacy. With a Foreword penned by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Winning on Appeal conveys the perfect blueprint for any lawyer who wants to win on appeal. Reviews "I argued before Judge Aldisert as a young attorney, and I learned from the experience of trying to hold my own in front of the former Marine. I will certainly never forget those occasions. Arguing before Judge Aldisert was the best (and therefore the most demanding) Socratic experience imaginable. Woe to the lawyer who was unprepared or, worse yet, tried to pull something on the court! But to paraphrase that famous Sinatra song, if you could make it arguing in front of Judge Aldisert, you could make it anywhere. I am very pleased that Rugi's teaching will live on after him in this new edition of Winning on Appeal. For new appellate advocates, this volume should be required reading. I wish that it had been available when I argued my first case. For more experienced attorneys, the book contains advanced tips and reminders that may serve as a corrective against the bad habits that are easy to acquire. For any attorney who wants to know how to win on appeal, this is where to look." -- Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Mastering Appellate Advocacy and Process
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Mastering Appellate Advocacy and Process clearly and concisely covers all aspects of appellate practice. The book first addresses appellate procedures in use across the United States, beginning with a compendium of federal and state appellate court systems, then covering preserving error below and on appeal, initiating an appeal, and compiling the record, as well as appealable orders and judgments, proper parties on appeal, and appellate jurisdiction. It then delves into legal analysis, drafting, and advocacy techniques used in preparing appellate briefs, as well as oral advocacy techniques in a discussion that is useful to both novice and experienced attorneys. Written for practicing lawyers as well as students, the book also includes a chapter devoted to law school moot court competitions, identifying how typical moot court competitions are like, and unlike, real-world appellate practice. The authors delve into technical waters while maintaining an accessible tone and structure, taking nothing for granted in terms of pre-existing knowledge or experience in the appellate field. The second edition has been updated to reflect developments in appellate court systems and procedure, legal practice, research, citation, and technology.
Contemporary Appellate Advocacy
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Discover the art and science of appellate advocacy with Contemporary Appellate Advocacy, a comprehensive textbook for law students and lawyers. Moving beyond the basics, this book explores the realities of modern appellate practice. Written by experienced authors Professor Ann Ching and Judge David B. Gass, this textbook demystifies the appellate process, offering both practical advice and theoretical foundations. It emphasizes ethics and professionalism while integrating psychology and social science to teach effective persuasion techniques. The book also adopts a modern approach to writing style and discusses the significant impact of technology on appellate practice. Ideal for various audiences, Contemporary Appellate Advocacy serves as a primary textbook for appellate advocacy courses, a supplemental resource for moot court programs or clerkships, and a reference guide for practicing lawyers. The book is structured into five parts, covering an appellate practice overview, appellate brief drafting, persuasive writing guidance, oral argument strategies, and special considerations, including the integration of legal technology. With Contemporary Appellate Advocacy, you'll become a more effective, persuasive, and knowledgeable advocate. The authors' real-world expertise and practical wisdom make this textbook an invaluable resource for students and practitioners alike.
The Law Library now provides BriefCatch to the entire Regent University community!
This award-winning product, which is widely used by U.S. courts and law firms, is a bit like Grammarly for lawyers. Designed to help users improve legal writing skills, BriefCatch analyzes legal documents and leverages insights from leading legal minds to offer real-time editing suggestions, examples from top lawyers and judges, analytical draft scores, and detailed narrative reports.
Instructions for installing BriefCatch are available here.
The Bluebook
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A Uniform System of Citation: The Bluebook is the definitive style guide for legal citation in the United States. For generations, law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals have relied on The Bluebook's uniform system of citation in their writing. In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, The Bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one another about the sources and legal authorities upon which they rely in their work.
Legal Citation in a Nutshell
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Learning legal citation is one of the difficult (and sometimes admittedly annoying) tasks that students new to the law face. This book is designed to ease that task. It initially focuses on conventions that underlie all accepted forms and systems of legal citation. Building on that understanding and an explanation of the process of using citations in legal writing, the book then discusses and illustrates the particular rules of The Bluebook and the ALWD Citation Guide for citing cases, statutes, and all other major legal sources. Its unique appendices provide a useful reference resource to aid students in formulating citations.
Cite Checker
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Cite-Checker: Your Guide to Using the Bluebook, Third Edition, provides students with a comprehensive self-paced guide to citation form according to The Bluebook. This concise paperback is rich with lucid explanations and sound advice and will prove a valuable complement to any legal writing or research course. This practical and pragmatic guide to learning proper citation form features: An easy-to-use, self-paced tutorial to citation form that includes rules, exercises, and answers Explanations of the rules established in The Bluebook along with a complete and thorough overview of citation form A hands-on exercise in each chapter, with answer keys to the exercises included in the text Practice Tips, offering practical advice on using The Bluebook, in every chapter A logical, step-by-step format to help students build confidence with citation skills A bonus section on preparing tables of authorities for briefs and court documents -- a topic not covered in either The Bluebook or ALWD Completely updated to the 19th Edition of The Bluebook published in June, 2010, the Third Edition presents new and revised exercises throughout. This concise, readable paperback offers thoughtful and thorough explanations of important concepts with self-checking exercises that will help students confidently master those concepts.
Understanding and Mastering the Bluebook
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View updates to The Bluebook® and printing differences in Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook® (printings in 2020, 2021, and 2023) here: https://caplaw.com/sites/umb/ The Bluebook® provides the rules for legal citation, but can be intimidating and frustrating to use. With its simple building-block approach, this survival manual teaches how to understand and master the essential rules for legal practitioners. Rules are fully described and illustrated using: Clear explanations and illustrations of the basic components of legal citations; Step-by-step instructions for building citations to the most common authorities cited by legal practitioners; Detailed guidance for citing legal materials to both print and electronic sources; Examples, comparison charts, illustrations, and bullet-point explanations designed for quick mastery of basic Bluebook citation rules; Tips, hints, and cautions to help users avoid common citation errors; Cross references to the controlling Bluebook rules; and A user-friendly format gathering The Bluebook's scattered rules for each authority into one place. For readers interested in further practicing their citation skills, Linda Barris created Mastering The Bluebook Interactive Exercises, an online learning tool. The new edition will coordinate with both Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook, Fourth Edition and The Bluebook, 21st Edition (both out summer 2020). Each copy of Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook, Fourth Edition includes a discount code for 20% off the purchase of Mastering The Bluebook Interactive Exercises.
