University of New Mexico School of Law

The required program includes two 3 credit classes, one each semester of the first year. The first semester covers: Basic legal reasoning and problem solving; legal research; memo writing; client communications; drafting. The second semester covers: ADR; communication with adversary; writing to the trial court; trial oral argument; appellate advocacy (brief writing and oral argument). In the first semester, in addition to many short assignments, students write and rewrite two closed universe memos and one open research memo. They also write client letters and have a drafting assignment. They complete several library worksheets and citation exercises using ALWD. In the second semester, in addition to shorter assignments, students write a mediation summary, conduct a negotiation, write letters to adversary, write and rewrite a trial level motion brief, argue the motion, write a complex appellate brief and argue it orally. They do not work in teams, but complete the entire brief and argument individually. They may also enter a voluntary tournament sponsored by the New Mexico Court of Appeals. The first year classes meet three times per week. Each section has approximately 20 students. There are also several individual student conferences with the legal writing instructor as well as small group brainstorming sessions with the instructor. There is also one teaching assistant assigned to each section. The other required writing is an upper level scholarly paper that requires approval by two readers who must be full time faculty at the law school.

Having just fully staffed our legal writing department with professional legal writing teachers, we are currently in the process of developing other elective writing courses to be offered to upper level students. These courses will include drafting (both litigation and non-litigation); advanced brief/persuasive writing; opinion writing; logic and rhetoric; scholarly writing. We anticipate adding some of these courses in the next academic year (2005-06). Currently offered is an advanced legal research course taught by library personnel. We also anticipate co-teaching some drafting and similar courses with substantive faculty. The legal writing faculty, along with the Director, are on one-year renewable contracts, have voting rights at faculty meetings (except on tenure and promotion decisions) and serve on committees. Instructors have under 50 students total, divided into two sections, and on a rotating basis will replace one first year section with an upper level writing course of their choosing. Salaries are below average according to the latest legal writing survey (but salaries of substantive, tenured faculty are also low at UNM). Legal Writing faculty members are generally treated as colleagues by other faculty. In sum, we have a very strong program that is growing stronger and does a fine job of preparing students for the real world practice of law.

An email address of someone who can answer questions about the program:

blumenfeld@law.unm.edu