Write-On Clinic

1. Write-On Clinic clrwriteon@gmail.com

2. Presentation Outline • Important Dates & Logistics • Write-On Components • Case Note • Editing Packet • Personal Statement • Additional Tips • Q&A

3. Important Dates • April 18-22 (12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.) Registration—Donor Lobby • May 13 (10:00 a.m.) Write-On begins • May 24 (8:00 p.m.) Packets due What does a duck have to do with important dates, you ask? Nothing!

4. Time Commitments • For the Write-On • 12 days, number of hours spent varies • Designed to allow for summer work and other commitments • For CLR • 2 years, approximately 80 hours per semester • You can be a part of other journals and student groups and still be on CLR!

5. Getting Your Ducks in a Row • Registration • Spring Final Exam # • $35 cash or check payable to California Law Review • Packet Pickup/ Submission • Pickup is all electronic • Case note and personal statement submitted electronically • Editing packet has special due dates, must be mailed or hand-delivered

6. Editing Packet Due Dates • Sending in your editing packet? Your 3 copies of the editing packet must arrive at the CLR office no later than noon on May 25. You’ll need to overnight them on May 24. No late submissions will be accepted! • Physically turning in your editing packet? Your 3 copies of the editing packet must be turned in to the CLR office by 8pm on May 24. No late submissions will be accepted!

7. Purpose: Provide commentary and legal analysis on a judicial opinion Can be focused on any aspect of the case Everything you need will be in your packet (case and research materials) Sample notes from past years on reserve 18 pages maximum (double-spaced) Specific page layout details to be provided in the packet Evaluated by 6 CLR Members Graded on a curve Case Note – 50%

8. Past Cases • United States v. Melendez-Diaz Drug analysis certificate is testimonial evidence subject to confrontation under the 6th Amendment • Medellin v. Texas Whether and how international treaties and judgments become binding domestic law • United States v. Kriesel Collecting non-violent felon’s DNA did not violate the 4th Amendment Hi, I’m a pig. I’m really intelligent. Seriously. I could probably write an awesome case note.

9. Suggested Case Note Structure • Introduction • Court’s holding • Thesis • The Case • Procedural history • Relevant facts • Court’s holding and reasoning • Legal Background & Existing Law • Previous law

10. Suggested Case Note Structure • Case Analysis • Was the case correctly or incorrectly decided? • How does this case fit into existing law? • Is the decision sound in light of public policy? • Conclusion • Summarize and unify your basic arguments.

11. Case Note Tips • Not expected to use all of the authorities • Begin with media articles on the case • Review material quickly before you try to form a thesis • Thesis: Pick a single, discrete issue • Support thesis and address counterarguments • Be clear, concise, and organized (headings) • Proofread and revise carefully! • Transitions, topic sentences, Bluebooking • Small things can make the difference

12. Case Note Grading • Analysis (35%) • Skillful use of authority to support argument • Critical, evenhanded discussion of court’s legal and policy arguments • Argument Presentation (20%) • Clarity, conciseness, persuasiveness Bluebook Form Writing Ability Analysis Organization Argument Presentation

13. Case Note Grading • Organization (20%) • Overall structure and logic of casenote • Flow of individual subsections • Apportionment of the available space • Integration of facts with legal arguments • Writing Ability (15%) • Grammar, syntax, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, appropriate use of active voice, effective use of varied sentence sizes • Bluebook Form (10%) • Need not give subsequent history if not provided in the packet

14. Editing Packet – 30% • Text and footnotes from a CLR article • Evaluates • Bluebooking of footnotes • Cite-checking and source support • Grammar and editing skills • Must use 19th edition Bluebook • Graded by development editors

15. Editing Packet Tips • Accuracy of Citation Information • Pay attention to signals, date, court, page references • Insert information where necessary • All quotations must match original source verbatim • Bluebooking • The index is your friend • Be meticulous: Font size, abbreviations, small caps, order of authorities, etc. • Do not use the blue pages

16. Editing Packet Tips • Source Support • Does a proposition need source support? Is it a quote? • Pay attention to parentheticals • Grammar • Correct all spelling and obvious punctuation errors • Do not correct discretionary use • Identify passive voice, split infinitives, run-on sentences, incomplete sentences • Points deducted for misediting and overediting

17. Editing Packet Tips • Editing the Main Text • Look for obvious structural problems. Does this paragraph have a topic sentence? Should this be two paragraphs and not one? Is this paragraph out of place?

18. Prompt available on the CLR web site Sample personal statements on reserve 2 pages maximum (double-spaced) Specific page layout details to be provided in the packet Graded by 8 CLR Members (EIC, Managing Editor, Diversity Editor, and 5 other randomly selected members) Personal Statement – 20%

19. Personal Statement Prompt CLR seeks a membership with varied backgrounds and interests. To this end, you may consider discussing how your background, life or work experiences, culture, and perspectives would contribute to the diversity of the entering class. If applicable, you may also describe any adversity that you have overcome, including discrimination, linguistic barriers, or a personal or family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage. Most importantly, please illustrate how any of these relevant factors affect the way you think about legal scholarship and the ways you can uniquely contribute to the work and community of the California Law Review.

20. Personal Statement Tips • Be genuine! • No laundry list of accomplishments • Questions to think about: • Who are you? • Why are you here? • What do you bring to CLR? • What are you passionate about? • ANSWER THE PROMPT!

21. Additional Tips • Follow the Instructions • Otherwise you might be disqualified • Time Management • Make sure you allot time to upload the casenote and personal statement and turn in the editing packet • Proofread, proofread, proofread!! • Each page is limited to 28 lines of text • Break paragraphs exactly at 23 pt. to reach the max • In MS Office 2003: Format  Paragraph  Line Spacing: Exactly  At: 23 pt. • Only use the authority that is provided in the packet • Make sure to organize your thoughts and look at the samples before starting • Note: once the write-on begins, you cannot refer to the sample case notes or personal statements

22. Additional Tips • Get started early • Keep at it! • Use the materials effectively • Don’t try to second-guess the exercise • There is no “right” answer (except on the editing section) Don’t be an ass! Just kidding. I love donkeys.

23. Questions? Concerns? http://www.californialawreview.org/information/about/membership-selection clrwriteon@gmail.com