"The pen is mightier
than the sword."

Course Website

Instructors

Judy Holmes
108 Gordon Hall
Tues. 1:30 - 3:00
Wed. 2:00 - 3:30
(413) 545-2305
jholmes@legal.umass.edu

Angela Labrador
114 Gordon Hall
By appointment

alabra@anthro.umass.edu

This course is designed to help students improve their ability to analyze and write about complicated legal issues. You should expect to do a lot of writing this semester. Our topics include three current controversial legal issues: social host liability, the constitutionality of gay marriage, and indeterminate detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay. You will learn how to read and understand court cases and how to find your way around a law library. Writing assignments include your own resume, a job application letter, case briefs, memorandum, opinion-editorial articles, and a short research paper. Assignments are written from the perspective of a lay person writing to another lay person. Satisfactory completion of this course fulfills your junior year writing requirement for the Department of Legal Studies.