- Describing the approach and/or mode of study and learning for this aspect of the module;
For studying this aspect of module I used the same approaches as I used before in previous topics, but also I used some new modes of studies. First of all I tried to find as many good relative sources as I could; I even registered on special lawyer’s forum, where Russian speaking students of English universities share information and sources on special topics. It was new experience for me, but it helped me very much. As always I took my notebook, and started to read all the relevant sources that I found, and during this took some notes about legal drafting, types of legal writing, practical exercises and how to improve legal drafting. And then, when I choose the best sources, I started to structure all my notes and knowledge on this topic. So there sometimes I used inductive method of study, and sometimes Inductive. It was not hard, because there are a lot of good sources and books in which all the information well structured.
In the classes we studied new every lecture and tutorial, also clarified a lot of information and one of the best studies were during our group work. It is really helps in studying, because in a group if you would not understand something, there are always people, who will help you and explain, and when you are explaining something, you remember the topic better and knowledge is more structured.
I think that in my approach the main advantage is that I am good at critical analysis and evaluation and group works. It helped me in studying this aspect of module very well. Of course there were some problems on studying legal drafting, but for them I have separate paragraph of essay.
- Reflecting upon problems in understanding and learning of this aspect of module and the methods/ways used to resolve them;
As in other aspects of module, in part of legal drafting there were problems with sources. There is very big amount of sources on topic of legal writing, on types of legal writing, on how to improve on rules of legal writing, and when I read a lot of sources I did not know which source I would choose. This problem I solved through advice that I asked from my group mates, and also as I wrote earlier I found forum, where Russian speaking students from different English Law universities share information, sources and so on. Most of sources I use I found there. This is how I solved this problem.
As I mentioned in previous entries there were some problems with group work. This aspect is not exclusion. The main problem of group work is human factor. It is just relations between people. But one of the biggest problems in group work is not misunderstanding, it is irresponsibility. These problems were solved through communication inside group.
- Describing research materials used to understand this aspect of the module?
To understand this aspect of module I used a lot of research materials such as lectures and tutorial information, online articles, books from library, also I downloaded few books from internet.
It was easy to define types of legal writing from lectures and tutorials, and few internet articles, but for me the must have information was about main principles and rules of legal writing and how to improve it. For these aspects of commercial drafting I choose few sources: Bryan A. Garner – “Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text with Exercises, this book consists of exercises” for improvement of legal writing and also all the main principles of how it must been done are also there. Article Legal writing from www.law.cornell.edu helped me to define what types of legal writing there are. Judge Mark P. Painter “Legal Writing 201. 30 suggestions to improve readability of how to write for judges not like judges” Ohio First District Court of Appeal – helped in finding how to make your legal writing more interesting. Evan Schaeffer - “Improve Your Legal Writing with Five Simple Rules” Published: The Illinois Bar Journal, 2/97 helped me in improvement of my legal writing, and also I use this as a memo, for my legal writing.
- Reflecting upon legal skills acquired and/or has developed by learning this aspect of the module?
I have acquired legal writing skill, at least as a beginner, and it is very useful skill in my future life. With other skills I think it is the same as with previous topics, I improved my Legal Research skills even more, analytical and logical reasoning were developed through tutorials and group works. And of course critical evaluation was developed. Skills are the same as always, but now they are more developed.
- Describing how this aspect of the module has helped or should help to learn the other aspects of the module.
This aspect of module can help me may be not in learning principles of contract (topic 7), but at least in drafting a contract in my future life as a lawyer. Also in dispute resolution (topic 8), because all the letters are also concern legal writing.
In future life Commercial Drafting topic will help me very much because all the work of lawyer connects and consists of legal writing.
References:
- http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/garner/
- http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Legal_writing
- http://www.plainlanguagenetwork.org/legal/legalwriting.pdf
- http://www.evanschaeffer.com/improve-your-legal-writing-with-five-simple-rules.html