Tips on Writing a Research Paper for a Paralegal
A good paralegal combines legal research skills with excellent writing skills to produce persuasive legal documents that are used by and relied upon by attorneys. Writing a research paper, therefore, is tough work. While each firm or office might have little nuances when it comes to writing legal research papers, general guidelines can make the process easier.
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Use the "IRAC" Method
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"IRAC" is an acronym that stands for "Issue," "Rule," "Analysis" and "Conclusion." The Issue section details the facts at issue in the case. The Rule portion sets forth the relevant law. In the Analysis section, the paralegal applies the facts of the case to the relevant law. Finally, based on the facts and the law as applied, the paralegal writes the Conclusion. This method organizes the paper into manageable parts and presents a cogent legal argument.
Use "Plain Language"
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Many courts insist that briefs and legal documents be written in "plain language." This doctrine stresses the use of clear and precise language. Avoid using legalese when possible. For example, in contract law parties traditionally were called "Party of the First Part" and "Party of the Second Part." Clean this language up by simply using the party's name or by designating a one-word title to each party (such as "John Smith (Grantor)."
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Keep Sentences Short
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Short sentences keep your thoughts clear. Long ones tend to muddle the reader's concentration and are less persuasive. Consider this example: "The car, a deep shade of burgundy, which was not unlike the color of blood, sped, at a high rate of speed, through the ruby street light." The writer simply could have written: "The red car ran a stop light." It is short and to the point.
Avoid Pronouns When Possible
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Legal research papers should leave nothing to interpretation. Try not to use "it" or "he/she" as you write the paper. Instead, be specific. If you refer to a law or a statute, cite the relevant law or statute, or use a short title. For example, you could write "According to the Texas Probate Code ("Code")." Additionally, use the person's name or title (e.g., "plaintiff" or "defendant") when referring to people in the paper.
Use Topic Sentences
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Legal research papers are not fiction novels. Typically, a reader is studying a legal research paper because he has to, not necessarily because he wants to. Start each new paragraph with a topic sentence. The sentence should explain the point and purpose of the paragraph.
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References
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