University of Illinois College of Law

At the University of Illinois College of Law, first-year students take Legal Research & Writing (2 credits) during the Fall semester and Introduction to Advocacy (3 credits) during the Spring semester. Students receive either High Honors, Honors, Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory in each course. In Legal Research & Writing, students learn to conduct legal research in both print and on-line sources. They also learn to analyze cases, statutes and other legal sources, and to apply their knowledge to factual scenarios. Students complete a number of small research and writing exercises, two drafts of a closed office memorandum and two drafts of an open office memorandum. Students gather the facts for the open office memorandum by interviewing a mock client. In Introduction to Advocacy, students continue to learn to conduct legal research and to draft persuasive documents. They draft a pre-trial memorandum and an appellate brief. They also conduct a mock negotiation, and trial and appellate oral arguments. The Legal Research & Writing faculty at the University of Illinois College of Law consists of six professors: the Director of Legal Research & Writing; the Associate Director of Legal Research & Writing; and four full-time professors. Please contact Shannon Moritz, Director of Legal Research & Writing, for additional information.