This SMU-X course will give SMU law students opportunities to work one-on-one with graduate mentors to produce high-quality case commentaries or shorter-form legal articles, with an aspirational goal of publication. As well as enhancing their legal knowledge, students will hone their writing and editing skills, and learn to communicate their analysis in a manner which is helpful to both lawyers and non-lawyers. This will also help students develop their body of work as they move from school into practice.
Students will work closely together with their graduate mentor on their commentaries or articles, crafting their work and receiving feedback and comments on a pre-agreed schedule. Students can also build up their networking skills through these mentorships.
At the end of the course, students will have produced one case commentary or article of around 5,000 words. The students can submit their papers to SMU Lexicon or other forums.