Subjects:

Legal Manuals

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Qualities of good writing

3. Plain English

4. Introduction to opinion writing

5. Opinion writing

6. The use of law in an opinion

7. Getting started

8. An illustration of the opinion writing process

9. Examples of barristers opinions

10. Advising for the purposes of public funding

11. Advice on evidence in a civil case

12. Advice on evidence in a criminal case

13. Advice on evidence and quantum

14. Assessment criteria

Appendix A: Improving your writing skills

Appendix B: Exercises

Appendix C: Further exercises

Appendix D: Re Mr and Mrs Roberts

Opinion Writing provides students with the necessary grounding in the skill of opinion writing. It covers all the important elements of technique and pays particular attention to the skill of advising on practical matters such as evidence and procedure.

Opinion Writing takes a systematic approach to teaching, first dealing with the analysis of the issues in the case, followed by the decision on what advice should be given and the structure of the opinion, and finally with writing the opinion to a professional standard. It also includes a chapter specifically designed to guide academic students who are meeting professional and practical demands for the first time. The fundamental qualities of good writing - clarity, accuracy and conciseness - are clearly identified and explained. The manual develops these qualities in the student so that their skill in using words reaches the high level required of barristers.

A number of opinions written by practising barristers are also provided as examples.