University of Cincinnati Professor Suja Thomas’s Top Ten Tips For Writing Law School Papers

#1 Proofread and edit your paper. See #2-#10.

#2 Write in sentences and paragraphs. The writing should flow with relationships between the sentences and the paragraphs.

#3 Include an introduction, sections with headings and a conclusion.

#4 Do not use parentheses.

#5 Do not pose questions.

#6 Use active voice.

#7 Cite every proposition that is not your own idea and use the proper citation form.

#8 Do not use slang, short-forms of words, or contractions.

#9 Include no typos or grammatical errors.

#10 Appearance is everything. See #1-#9.

Also:

There is no such thing as a “rough draft.” Your first draft should be as good as you can get it.

Never hand a piece of paper to anyone that does not identify 1) what it is and 2) who wrote it.