Fifth “Colonial Frontier” Legal Writing Conference, Drafting Statutes and Rules: Pedagogy, Practice, and Politics

Е-мейл Оргкомітету: levinej@duq.edu.

Організатори: Duquesne University School of Law

 

The least common, but perhaps one of the most important, advanced writing subjects addressed in law schools is the drafting of statutes, ordinances, regulations, and rules (for public laws or governance of non-governmental entities). Instruction focuses almost exclusively on the repercussions of poorly written statutes or rules, on the courts’ efforts at application and interpretation of statutory language, and on scholarly criticism of statutes.  Instead, law schools should teach students and practitioners how to better draft statutes and similar documents to avoid confusion, ambiguities, disagreements, and litigation.

Duquesne University School of Law's 2016 legal writing conference offers attendees an opportunity to hear from academicians who teach how to write statutory materials, practitioners who craft statutes and similar rules, and other scholars who study all forms of legislation. Join us for Drafting Statutes and Rules: Pedagogy, Practice, and Politics.

 
Plenary Sessions

In the morning plenary session Professor Richard Neumann of Hofstra Univ. and Professor J. Lyn Entrikin of the Univ. of Arkansas Little-Rock will speak about the importance of teaching statutory and rule drafting in law school. In the afternoon plenary session former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett (R) and Pennsylvania Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D) will answer questions about the state legislative process and politics.

 
Call for Presentation Proposals

Possible topics about pedagogy include:

    Structuring statutory drafting courses
    Simulation courses designed using mock legislatures or committees
    Course linkages with real-world legislators and special interest organizations
    Service learning or clinical opportunities for law students
    Courses focused on law reform efforts
    How to employ Plain-English principles in statutory and rule drafting
    Theoretical perspectives on statutory drafting
    Involving political realities in law school drafting courses
    Teaching practical aspects of drafting that addresses theories and principles of statutory interpretation and construction

 

Possible topics about practice include:

    Unique challenges of drafting laws and/or regulations in specific areas such as criminal law, environmental, health law, etc.
    Lawyering for non-profits, federal and state agencies, local governments, and other clients in frequent need of rule-drafting
    Practicing in employment law, health law, environmental law, and other heavily regulated fields where private clients require rule and policy drafting
    Non-legal drafting opportunities, such as sports league rules, industry trade group policies, and university rules

 

Possible topics about politics include:

    Political influences affecting legislative drafting
    Direct democracy and the unique challenges of drafting initiatives and referenda
    The implications of special interests driving drafting decisions
    Polictics and its influence on legislative history
    Lobbyists as legislative drafters
 

Веб-сторінка конференції: http://law.duq.edu/events/drafting-statutes-and-rules-pedagogy-practice-and-politics