Legal Writing Clinic

Professor Stoker meets with students individually to help them with Lawyering Process writing assignments or writing assignments for other classes (with the professor’s prior permission). Individual meetings include assistance with issues such as organization, analysis, and legal style, as well as grammar, punctuation, usage, and citations. Students may visit the Writing Specialist at any stage in the writing process.

While the Writing Specialist offers specific advice and suggestions, her role is to help students improve their own writing and self-editing skills, not to edit or proofread papers for them.

The Writing Clinic administers a diagnostic and proficiency testing process that some Lawyering Process classes have implemented to help assure that students are proficient in formal grammar, punctuation, and usage. Professor Stoker helps these students identify specific areas for improvement through workshops and individualized study and otherwise assists them in preparing for the final proficiency test.

The Writing Clinic emails weekly Writing Tips to all first year students. These brief tips address common writing problems in student papers, including some of the topics that are covered on the proficiency test. The tips are also posted on the Legal Writing Clinic Canvas course.

Commas and Other Punctuation

• Getting to Know Your Commas (PDF)
• Getting to Know Your Commas: Rules & Practice Exercises (PDF)
• Other Punctuation: Colons, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Quotes (PDF)
• Other Punctuation: Semicolons, Colons, and Apostrophes - Rules & Practice Exercises (PDF)
   

Grammar and Usage

• Grammar Workshop Presentation (PDF)
• Grammar Workshop Practice Exercises (Word)
   

Writing Tips for International Students (PDF)

Passive Voice: How to Spot It and Fix It (PDF)

Students may also seek assistance with writing samples for the job search. Students who would like assistance with writing samples for OCI or other job opportunities should provide their writing samples to Professor Stoker at least two business days before a scheduled appointment.