How To Write A Law Essay
A law essay is one of the most common tasks in the lives of law students. However, the fact that you often need to write a law essay doesn’t make the assignment any easier. Plus, there are so many types of law essays you will have to master that it’s not uncommon for students to get confused.
What Is a Law Essay?
Even if it’s not your first time writing a law essay, the best way to approach this assignment is to learn the definition of a law essay first. So what is a legal essay and how is it different from all other academic assignments you have completed before?
A law essay is an academic paper that explores various sides of the law. The definition of a law essay may sound simple, but that’s exactly what makes the writing of law essays so challenging. The spectre of potential topics and subjects is just too broad to consider this assignment fast and easy.
Types of law essays
A legal essay is a very diverse assignment and your professor can mean different things when tasking you with this paper. Right now, there are three most common types of law essays:
- Legal theory essay, which is possibly the easiest type of law papers. In this essay, your job is to define and explain any legal theory in history.
- Quote explanation essay, where you need to interpret a quote from a legal point of view.
- Jurisprudence essay, which may be the hardest writing task for a law student. In this essay, you need to analyze a specific legal document or case.
Law Essay Outline
When learning how to write law essays, your next step is studying the required law essay structure. Here is where you will probably be relieved to know that law essays follow the typical essay structure that consists of the following chapters:
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs
- Conclusion
When working on your law essay outline, you first need to draft your ideas and divide them between the corresponding parts of the outline. Whichever evidence from outside sources you are using also needs to be included in the necessary chapters of the outline.
Now let’s talk about writing each chapter of a law essay in detail.
Introduction
Your introduction must captivate the readers, but it also has a specific purpose: to prepare the audience for what they are about to read. That is why your essay introduction not only needs to include a hook, but also provide the necessary context and define the thesis statement of the paper.
In the case of a law essay, it’s perfectly normal for the readers to get frustrated with the amount of information. For this reason, it’s also a good idea to create a brief roadmap in your introduction and indicate which points will be discussed in every upcoming chapter of the essay.
Body paragraphs
The body paragraphs are where most of the action in your law essay will take place, so you need to take this part of the writing process especially seriously. Each body paragraph should be dedicated to a separate idea and start with a topic sentence.
A topic sentence gives a clear definition to the body paragraph and helps you focus your thoughts and ideas. Then you need to use solid evidence from credible sources to support your ideas and convince the readers.
An essential aspect of law essay writing is the use of transitional words and phrases. They put your writing to another level and help readers navigate through your points better. Words and phrases like “In addition to”, “Similarly”, “Moreover”, “In reference to”, “Nevertheless”, and others should be used in your essay when needed.
Conclusion
The conclusion to your law essay should not contain any new information that hasn’t been mentioned in the previous parts of the paper. It should be directly linked to everything that has been said before and make it even more evident for the readers why you fully proved your point.
The conclusion of a law paper always works in a connection with the main idea of the essay. If you phrased the main idea in the form of the question, view the conclusion as one final answer to that question.
The most powerful conclusions also not only summarize the points of the law essay, but also promote additional thinking and research. You can use the last sentence of the conclusion to encourage your readers to explore the topic further.
Whether you specialize in municipal or international law, writing a well-structured essay may be daunting. This is because our criminal justice system evolved into a complex of convoluted procedures. When studying law school, you must figure out the intricacies of existing laws and find the best way to achieve criminal justice goals.
Key Tips to Help You Write a Great Essay on Law
Do you want to master the art of writing a perfect essay about law? Kudos if you do. This section shares insights and tips to help you master the skill of drafting a good essay about law. Keep reading below to learn more about how to write a law paper that fetches excellent grades.
Start Early
Like with any other demanding academic task, you have to start your paper early to get enough time to research, plan, and write your assignment. We recommend starting your essay once you receive the assignment into work. Otherwise, any last-minute attempt will cause you unnecessary stress and leave you with little time to draft, reference, and polish your essay.
Understand the Question
Read the question thoroughly and ensure you understand what your instructor wants you to do. Note all key terms and annotate the question by defining the main concepts. You may frame your assignment like a discursive essay, where you will explore the shades of meaning of a legal term, concept, or theory. Besides, you will need to consider how the question connects back to what you learned in class.
Research Thoroughly
Thoroughly research your topic. You can use different sources, such as academic papers, cases, and other legal materials. While researching, you should take notes of the sources and annotate them. It’s also vital to prioritize high-quality primary data and credible academic evidence from well-recognized academic journals.
Write an Engaging Introduction
Compose an engaging introduction that captures your audience’s attention and establishes direction for your paper. This opening section must be highly informative but brief. Don’t use excessive details here or complex language. Your introduction should give the reader a strategic direction so they can know what to expect in your paper’s subsequent sections.
Finish Strong
You should end your essay on a strong note. A good conclusion usually reinforces your thesis statement, summarizes the main arguments, and offers a sense of closure. We recommend going beyond mere rephrasing of ideas and offering new insights to them.
The conclusion should also leave your readers with a lasting impression by ending with a memorable statement or thought. However, don’t introduce any new information you didn’t discuss in your previous sections.
Proofread and Edit Your Essay
You must polish your essay by ridding it of all grammar mistakes. Check the paper to ensure that pronouns agree, tenses are consistent, and verbs agree with subjects. Your grammar check must ensure that everything is clear and remove all redundant renderings.
Also, check for all spelling mistakes that you might have made during writing or editing. Check your law assignment to ensure that its citation format is correct and aligns with your given guidelines.
Start by Stating Your Goals
In your introduction, state your goals. Inform readers about what you intend to discuss so they can have a proper sense of expectation. This part of writing will give your readers a proper direction and will help your professor to identify whether you have grasped the subject fully. It’s best done in the introductory part, especially the thesis statement.
Consider Your Argument Carefully
Make sure you present a comprehensive argument by considering both your evidence and the potential counterarguments. Remember, a good law paper presents the other side of the debate by acknowledging and refuting it. This approach fortifies your overall argument and shows your critical thinking skills.
Convey Your Key Idea Points
A good law essay also requires you to lay out the evidence and arguments in a clear, logical manner. You should start from the introduction and build on it in the body paragraphs. Make sure that every new idea point articulated in the next paragraph relates to the main topic voiced in the introduction.
Additional Writing Tips
Here are other writing tips to help you compose a perfect legal essay.
- Employ clear and precise language to state your arguments and avoid unnecessary jargon.
- Avoid complex sentences. Remember, simplicity is better than using complex sentences that might confuse your readers and bury your bright ideas in meandering phrases.
- Support all your claims and arguments using legal evidence and analysis.
- Polish your paper to make it clear, coherent, and correct so that it follows all legal academic writing standards.
Closing Remarks
Any student, including you, can write a perfect essay about law. We understand that you might face a few challenges along the way. Fortunately, all these difficulties are surmountable with a little help and guidance. By following the professional tips and experience-based recommendations, you are sure to advance in legal writing.
If you need further assistance with your classwork, don’t hesitate to ask for it. We are your best friends in the hour of need. Contact our team today.
