Most students do all right with commas, periods, sentence fragments, and verb agreement. But what about colons, dashes, passive voice, and parallelism? This lesson covers several advanced topics in grammar and punctuation for the legal writer who is ready to move beyond the basics.
Read moreThis lesson takes a look at two types of agreements that lack consideration: those supported by past consideration or moral obligation. Consideration is often described as the bargained-for-exchange. The bargained-for-exchange is what induces the making of the promise by the offeror and the promise induces the furnishing of the consideration by the offeree. Consideration is the ordinary means for justifying the enforcement of the promises by the parties. Where consideration was given in the past or the promisee is only morally obligated to make the promise, bargained-for-exchange is lacking and the promises are not enforceable.
Read moreThis lesson covers the basic principles of ethical pleading as required by Federal Rule 11 (it does not cover analogous state rules).
Read moreThis lesson examines the public policy objectives driving and defining United States patent law. The first section explores the nature and logic of the regime's generally accepted core purpose - providing optimum incentives to invest in useful arts innovation. The next section discusses how that goal generates the basic doctrinal requirements for patentability (novelty, nonobviousness, utility, enablement/disclosure - patentable subject matter is covered separately in lessons on Patentable Subject Matter and Non-Obviousness). The lesson's final section concludes with a brief look at how other normative views of property entitlements affect patent public policy debate as well as client expectations.
Read moreThis lesson explores the standards for modifying child custody orders and the policies underlying same. It is an introductory lesson and assumes an understanding of the issues involved in making an initial custody decree. This lesson should be worked, for review and reinforcement, after the topic has been covered in class. The lesson may also serve as a substitute for covering this topic in class, as long as the student has covered the more general topic of initial custody decision making. The lesson does not cover interstate jurisdiction or relocation (moving the child out of the jurisdiction). Those topics are covered in other lessons.
Read moreThis lesson covers the defense of laches to an equitable action. Students will learn when the defense applies, the elements necessary to establish the defense, and how courts consider the defense. Students will also learn to distinguish laches from the related defenses of Estoppel and the Statute of Limitations.
Read moreThis lesson is the second lesson reviewing Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). This lesson explores issues relating to the assertions by a suspect of the rights provided by Miranda--the right to silence and the right to an attorney prior to questioning; the application of the exclusionary rule to violations of Miranda; and exceptions to and limits on the Miranda rule.
Read moreThe classic rhetoric of Cardozo in Meinhard v. Salmon hides a delicate economic intuition justifying broad fiduciary obligations. This lesson parses closely the text of the dissent and the majority to recognize the idiosyncratic facts that make this a pivotal case. The focus is on the economic ramifications of Cardozo's choice.
Read moreThis lesson will help you master legal citations using the California Style Manual, Fourth Edition (hereinafter "Manual").
Read moreThis lesson is intended to familiarize the reader with Georgia legal research materials. The lesson focuses on Georgia's primary source material including cases and digests, citators, statutes, administrative materials, court rules and ethics.
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