LEGAL WRITING

AND ANALYSIS
Mindanao State University – College of Law, Marawi City
I. INTRODUCTION
Definition of Legal Writing
• The act of a legal professional in convincing others
of his legal stands, position or opinion presented in a
form of writing.
(Source: Abad, A. (2009). Fundamentals of Legal Writing. Quezon City: Central Books Supply)
Definition of Legal Analysis
• Legal Analysis is the process of determining how
the law applies to a problem.

(Source: William H. Putman [Legal Research, Analysis and Writing, 2d ed., 3 (2010)])
Distinction from Legal Research
• Legal Research is the process of finding the law to a
problem.
(Source: William H. Putman [Legal Research, Analysis and Writing, 2d ed., 3 (2010)])
 Legal Legal Legal
Research Analysis Writing
II. IMPORTANCE OF
LEGAL WRITING
• The Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), an
organization comprised of deans of different law school in the
country, conducted a study in 2015 to study the state of Philippine
legal education.
• PALS also conducted a survey among 1,600 randomly selected
lawyers which aimed to collect information on the opinion of
respondents towards relevance of certain law subjects to a
lawyer’s practice.

• Opinions were also gathered on the knowledge and skills that a

law graduate or new lawyer must possess.

(Source: Tongol, J. (2020, June). Challenges and the Way Forward: The State of the Philippine
Legal Education System. Custos Veritas, 2(1).)
How relevant the following courses are to the lawyer’s present law
practice?
How relevant the following courses are to the lawyer’s present law practice?
(TOP 15 COURSES)

Course Net Positive Rating

Obligations and Contracts 16.5

Legal Research 14.0

Legal Writing 13.6

Constitutional Law 12.6

Corporation Law 12.5

Criminal Law 12.2

Persons and Family Relations 11.5

Evidence 11.2

Sales 11.1

Property 10.6

Civil Procedure 10.5

Torts and Damages 9.8

Legal Forms 9.3

Legal Technique and Logic 8.9

Labor Law 8.4

 Lawyers’ opinion about the knowledge and skills that new lawyers should have for the
present practice of law
Lawyers’ opinion about the knowledge and skills that new lawyers should have for the present practice of law

Knowledge or Skill Number of Respondents Percentage

Oral, Written and Communication Skills 689 83.62

Legal and Contract Writing 641 77.79

Critical and Analytical Thinking 614 74.51

Legal Research 568 68.93

Legal Ethics 550 66.75

Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation 478 58.01

Business Laws 453 54.98

Computer and Technology 430 52.18

Conflict Management 389 47.21

Law Office Administration 266 32.28

Environmental Laws 230 27.91

International Laws 167 20.27

III. EXAMPLES OF
LEGAL WRITING
IV. OBJECTIVES
1. To help identify and put together the facts on which the issues of a case
will be decided.

2. To help you find the law or rule that applies to your case given the
nature of the legal dispute involved.

3. To help you correctly identify the issue/issues in a case

4. To help you pack power into your arguments

5. To show you how to edit your work, tighten your sentences, and make
your writing come through to your reader clearly

6. To help you write better

 FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENT #1
Reflection Paper
• “What is Legal Writing?”
• Size 12, Times New Roman, A4
• Cite your References, APA Format
THANK YOU