Legal Drafting and Professional Skills
Legal Drafting and Professional Skills tests whether a candidate can turn facts and law into clear, usable documents. It covers pleadings, contracts, legal memos, client interviews, negotiation and legal research.
Core rules
- Pleadings must state material facts, legal basis and requested remedy; evidence is not the pleading.
- Contracts need defined terms, clear obligations, conditions, remedies and signature blocks.
- Use active voice, short sentences, consistent terminology and a logical order.
- Legal memos use IRAC: issue, rule, application, conclusion.
- Research must cite primary law accurately and distinguish binding from persuasive authority.
Worked example
A supply contract says delivery 'as soon as possible.' The buyer suffers loss when goods arrive late. The clause is too vague to fix a date. Redraft: 'Seller shall deliver by 1 June 2025; time is of the essence; late delivery entitles Buyer to liquidated damages of 0.5% per week, capped at 10%.' Reasoning: a clear date, a consequence and a cap make the obligation enforceable and predictable.
Traps
Vague pronouns; inconsistent defined terms; missing date or signature; pleading conclusions without facts; copying without checking jurisdiction.