Dear 1L, the 1L spring brief is a 1L confidence thief.

Dear 1L, the 1L spring brief is a 1L confidence thief.

Just as you’re starting to hit your stride—thinking you might actually “get” how to do this whole law school thing—

WHAM ❗️—the brief smacks you in the face and you feel totally inadequate again.

Please know: it is not just you.

Writing a legal brief for the very first time is enough to bring even an experienced legal analyst to their knees.

And don’t assume the topics you’re writing about are “baby” versions of real law, either. I’ve seen hundreds of these 1L spring assignments, and they’re HARD!!

Okay, mini-rant over. Back to the task at hand: getting through it.

To help you, I’ve compiled some sample sentences that work well in the three types of briefs that typically get assigned:

-Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ) (FRCP 56)
-Post-trial JMOL (previously “JNOV”) (FRCP 50)
-Appeal from a Summary Judgment or JMOL ruling

See the sample sentences in the attached. ⤵️

I hope this is helpful.

I am rooting you on from here.

💌 Amanda

#Dear1L

📫 If you’re in the middle of your spring brief, what’s been the hardest part so far?