LEGAL REPORTING I, II, III, IV (3 credits each) (LWR 501, 502, 503, 504)

formerly named Legal Writing for the New Media

Professor Michelle Zierler

Apply your understanding of the law to current events. Learn how to research and analyze the law and communicate effectively to the layperson. Students’ work will go through multiple drafts and the class will work as a team to help edit one another’s pieces. Our aim will be to learn the basics of good writing, good research, and good journalism, and to have students’ work published on the PLJ blog.

The Program in Law and Journalism has launched a blog, “Legal As She Is Spoke” (LASIS), which at least at the moment is the only online (and perhaps offline) publication devoted to critiquing legal journalism. LASIS will operate as a newsroom, with students responsible for writing for and managing the publication, under the supervision of Professors Zierler and Lieberman. The blog is intended to be active, with multiple stories posted weekly.

Legal Reporting I (fall) - A prerequisite for LR II, III, and IV. Students learn the basics of journalism and writing while contributing to LASIS.

Legal Reporting II -(spring) Students take on more autonomy, choosing their own story ideas, and working on longer term projects.

Legal Reporting III (fall) and IV (spring) - Students take on staff positions and mentor students in LR I. Contributions in writing also required.

Students seeking to graduate as an Associate in Law and Journalism must take all 4 semesters of Legal Reporting, and electives as set out on the PLJ Website.