Advanced Legal Writing: Business Transactions

This course offers comprehensive preparation for the practice of the transactional lawyer. Students will learn foundational tools to write clear, effective, plain language business contracts and analyze other transactional writings used to manage and document complex business transactions. The course provides a selective mix of interactive live and recorded lectures, and a wide range of realistic drafting and research exercises. These exercises help students sharpen their analysis, research, drafting, and editing skills, and develop sensitivity to the expectations of attorneys and clients with whom they will be working. Students will learn to interpret provisions in a variety of business agreements. Issues related to ethics in a transactional practice will also be addressed. The course should appeal especially to students interested in working for a law firm and practicing transactional law (be it corporate, venture, debt, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, real estate, etc.). It will also appeal to those interested in business litigation, or those curious about the work of transactional lawyers. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Students on the waitlist for the course will be admitted if spots are available on the basis of priority and degree program. Early drop deadline: Students may not drop this course after the first week of class. Corporations (Law 1013) is a prerequisite for all but for LLM students in the CGP program only (not other LLM programs). Elements used in grading: Class participation, attendance, written assignments, and final paper. Please consult the syllabus for paper and assignment deadlines. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS website (https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/consent-of-instructor-forms/). See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.