LEGAL WRITING

Wednesday 5:00-7:00pm
1st Semester AY 2022-2023
Course Syllabus

Book reference: Legal Writing Plain and Simple by Atty. Arvin Antonio
Ortiz, 2021 Edition
Professor: Atty. Joselito Agapito

I. Preliminaries
A. Advocacy
B. The Modern Practice of Law
1. Cayetano v. Monsod, G.R. No. 100113, September 3, 1991
C. Writing in Law Practice
D. State of Legal Writing
1. Leonor v. Court of Appeals, G.R No. 112597, April 2, 1991
E. The Need to Write Well
F. Good Legal Writing
1. Sun Insurance Office, Ltd. v. Court of Appeals, G.R No.
92383, July 17, 1992
G. Demand Letter

II. Reminders on English Grammar & Composition

A. Parts of Speech
B. Subject-Verb Agreement
C. Proper Usage of Articles
D. Writing Stages
E. Overcoming Writer’s Block
F. Often Asked English Usage Questions

III. Fundamentals of Legal Writing

G. Introduction to Legal Writing
H. Types of Legal Writing
I. Signposts for Prewriting
J. Case Briefing
K. Citation
L. Plagiarism and How to Avoid It
1. U.P. Board of Regents v. Court of Appeals, G.R No.
134625, August 31 1999
2. In re Del Castillo, A.M No. 10-7-17-SC, October 15, 2010
G. Legal Opinion Letter
IV. Legal Logic and Reasoning
A. Structure of Legal Argument
1. Ramirez v. Court of Appeals, G.R No. 93833, September 28,
1995
B. Forms of Legal Reasoning
1. People v. Abayon, G.R No. 204891, September 14, 2016
2. Lazatin v. Desierto, G.R No. 147097, June 5, 2009
3. Land Bank of the Phils. v. Suntay, G.R No. 188376,
December 14, 2011
4. People v. Sandiganbayan, G.R No. 188165, December 11,
2013
C. Interplay of Legal Reasoning
1. In re Del Castillo, A.M No. 10-7-17-SC, October 15, 2010
D. Inter-office Memorandum

V. Cardinal Rules of Legal Writing

A. Be Clear and Concise
B. Be Literate
C. Be Accurate
D. Be Wary of Legalese
E. Be Polite
1. Torres v. Javier A.C No. 5910, September 21, 2005
2. Hueysuwan-Florido v. Florido A.C No. 5624, January 20
2004

VI. Performance Tasks

VII. Writing for the Bar Exam

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