Boston University
First Year Program
The First Year Writing Program at Boston University School of Law is a required, two semester, graded program, taught by 21 adjunct instructors in sections of 12-14 students under the direction of the Director, who is a faculty member with a long term contract and full voting rights, and an associate director, who bears primary responsibility for our moot court programs.
In addition to the instructor, each section is assigned an upper class Legal Writing Fellow. The Fellows receive academic credit for their work and attend a bi-weekly class taught by the Writing Program Director. The director chooses the Fellows on the basis of instructor recommendations, feedback from current Fellows, an interview and a writing sample.
In the first semester, students begin with an editing assignment and a closed memorandum. Research instruction is provided by library staff, who attend a number of regular seminar meetings and cover both electronic and manual research. Students complete a number of short, finding exercises. Students also complete two, research memoranda in the first semester.
In the second semester, students participate in an appellate moot court program. In addition, students draft a client letter, complaint and trial memorandum during the second semester. Students also complete a negotiation and drafting assignment in semester two.
Upper Level Programs and Courses
The law school offers an advanced writing class, as well as specialized writing classes in Legislative Services. Writing instruction is also provided in the various law school clinics and upper class seminars.
The law school also has an upper-class writing requirement, that students may satisfy through a seminar, law review membership, independent study or moot court directorship.
Faculty
The director of the program has a long-term contract and votes on all matters except for tenure decisions. The director also serves on law school and university committees, both as a member and as a chair.
The instructors are attorneys who have practiced law for at least two years. Many have taught in the program for over ten years.
Web Links
http://www.bu.edu/law/central/jd/programs/firstyear.html
Other Information
The law school places a great importance on legal writing. Our goal is to equip our students with the skills needed to work at any type of legal office, private or public, by the end of their first year. Our experience indicates that we have generally been able to meet that goal. In addition, both student evaluations and surveys of upper class students demonstrate the students' appreciation of, and satisfaction with, the writing program.
Contacts
rvolk@bu.edu