Different types of Legal Documents Written by Legal Professionals

TYPES OF LEGAL WRITING

Legal Writing to Inform

EXAMPLES

• Transmittal Letter

• Client Letter

• Letter to Third Party

• Opinion Letter

• Office Memo

EXAMPLES (continued)

• Transmittal Letter- Communicates Basic Information

• Client Letter- Written to Client

• Letter to Third Party

• Opinion Letter- Letter by Attorney regarding Legality of the transaction

• Office Memo- Letter sent and created for Real Estate Closing or Loan

Closing

LEGAL DOCUMENTS DESIGNED

TO PERSUADE

• EXAMPLES:

• PLEADINGS

• MEMORANDUM OF LAW

• APPELLATE BRIEF

PLEADINGS

• Formal statements in a lawsuit that set forth the parties claims and defenses

PLEADINGS

• Formal statements in a lawsuit that set forth the parties claims and defenses

MEMORANDUM OF LAW

• Written by the Attorney

• Contains argument substantiated by relevant case law authority

APPELLATE BRIEF

• Formal statement submitted to Appellate Court

• Used to persuade court of correctness of client’s opinion

• Argues facts of the case and applicable law and is supported by relevant case

law authority

LEGAL DOCUMENTS DESIGNED

TO RECORD INFORMATION

• EXAMPLES:

• DEED

• CONTRACT

• WILL

• CASE BRIEF

DEED

• Document used to convey or transfer Real

Property or an interest in Real Property from one person to another person

CONTRACT

• An agreement entered into by the parties who agree to do or refrain from

doing a particular thing

• Supported by Consideration

WILL

• Instrument by which a person makes a disposition of his or her property to

take effect after his or her death.

CASE BRIEF

• An outline or summary of a published Court Opinion.