Summary of Advocates Admission Exams Part 1: Legal Writing

Main Ideas and Concepts

• Webinar Purpose: The session, led by Samantha Reddy from LexisNexis South Africa, is designed to prepare attendees for the upcoming bar exams, specifically focusing on legal writing.
• Guest Speaker: Advocate Chris Monavik from New Zealand shares his expertise and insights on preparing for the legal writing component of the bar exam. He is the author of "Litigation Skills for South African Lawyers."
• Preparation Tips for Legal Writing Exam
  • Initial 15 Minutes:
    • Read the exam paper carefully.
    • Organize questions from easiest to hardest.
    • Allocate time based on the marks assigned to each question.
  • Exam Technique:
    • Use structured paragraphs and bullet points for clarity.
    • Aim to impress the examiner with the organization of your answers.
• Recommended Study Materials
  • "Civil Procedure in the Superior Courts" by Justice Harams.
  • "Litigation Skills" by Chris Monavik.
  • "Amla's Precedents of Pleadings" for examples of necessary legal documents.
• Types of Documents in Legal Writing Exam
  • Opinions and memoranda.
  • Claims, defenses, exceptions.
  • Applications (notices of motion and affidavits).
  • Requests for particulars and appellate documents.
• Structure of Legal Documents
  • Opinions and Memoranda:
    • Introduction, discussion, analysis, conclusion.
  • Pleadings:
    • Must include a prayer (request for judgment).
    • Each pleading should have a clear structure and adhere to rules.
  • Defenses:
    • Can include admissions, denials, confessions, and avoidance.
    • Must also have a prayer.
• General Advice
  • Use structured approaches for drafting documents.
  • Write down examples and precedents to aid memory.
  • Always refer back to legal texts for guidance.
• Additional Resources: LexisNexis offers print works and library discounts for exam preparation.
• Future Sessions: A follow-up webinar will focus on civil trials and alternative dispute resolution.

Methodology and Instructions

• Initial Preparation:
  • Read the exam questions thoroughly.
  • Rank questions by difficulty.
  • Allocate time based on the marks for each question.
• Drafting Legal Documents:
  • Use structured paragraphs and bullet points.
  • Ensure each document has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Include a prayer in all pleadings.
• Study Recommendations:
  • Utilize prescribed textbooks and precedents for guidance.
  • Practice drafting various legal documents to become familiar with their structure.
• Exam Strategy:
  • Manage time effectively during the exam.
  • Focus on the issues relevant to the questions asked.

Speakers/Sources Featured

• Samantha Reddy: Content Manager at LexisNexis South Africa.
• Chris Monavik: Advocate from New Zealand and author of "Litigation Skills for South African Lawyers."

Notable Quotes

— 00:00 — « No notable quotes »

Category

Educational

Video