How to write a law essay: the basics of law essay writing

A law essay is an essential component of your university studies. If you want a law degree, you have to be familiar with legal principles, understand the source of legal commentaries, and be able to defend your viewpoint to present a clear essay structure. The law essay assignment can be especially daunting if you only have a few days to complete the task. However, having an essay writing service on your side is a guarantee of instant academic success. As you ask a professional essay writer to write a paper for me, you will get a law essay polished to perfection.

Law essays should also demonstrate a deep understanding of legal sources and legal reasoning. From understanding the law essay question to reviewing your work, the entire process may require law essay writers to spend a considerable amount of time pondering their arguments. Thankfully, this guide will help you with law essay writing and the principles of law essay texts. If you are struggling with your writing and haven’t got a clue on how to write a law essay, there is a guide to help: 

Step 1: Understand the question

Before you start the research process, the first step to law essay writing is understanding the research question. Failing to reflect on the research question is a common pitfall for students who neglect the use of a top law essay writing service in their academic writing and skip the instructions provided. At one point, you have to analyze every guideline attached to the research question. Law essays usually come with a set of requirements, and not being able to break down and clarify what is being asked will lead to more trouble down the road. Law essays will also require students to argue or evaluate particular legal principles and statutes, and that is nearly impossible without being able to evaluate the main research question.

If determining the primary question of your law essay seems like a challenge, start with the key terms that can be found in your assignment. Usually, the law essay will feature keywords such as “evaluate,” “assess,” “analyze,” “discuss”, and “compare.” The keywords will provide clues on how you need to structure your argument. You also have to pay attention to the law essay topic range. Some essays will need you to focus on specific legal issues, while other assignments allow broader implications to be discussed in the context of academic writing. Our database of law papers can provide you with more detailed examples of law essay writing typically required in college. If there is any ambiguity or controversy in the requirements attached to your legal essay, ask your professor to clarify the issue or consult your instructor to avoid wasting time on irrelevant law essay topics. 

Step 2. Conduct thorough research

Once you have an understanding of how to write a law essay with the research question you have been given, it is time to conduct proper research. A law essay typically relies heavily on authoritative sources, such as statutes, case laws, legal commentaries, and academic journals. You have to define primary and secondary sources that would support your arguments:

Primary sources:

• Statutes. Statutes are written laws conducted by the legislatures that have to be used in your research for a law essay. 
• Case laws. Case laws are judicial decisions that interpret statutes and legal principles and allow you to explore the case law commentary at full length.
• Regulations. Regulations are legal rules that are made by official agencies. 

Secondary sources:

• Textbooks. Textbooks will offer detailed explanations of legislative principles. 
• Journal articles. Journal articles will provide in-depth critical discussions of legal issues.
• Case commentary. Case commentary is a document that contains a breakdown of court decisions with their thorough analysis. 

If you want how to write a law essay that will sound professional, you should familiarize yourself with the most recent case law and legislative developments. You can also search for reliable academic databases online. The most popular databases for writing a law essay are WestLaw and LexisNexis. 

Step 3. Create a thesis statement

Once you have collected sufficient information for your law essay, it is time to create a thesis statement. When writing a law essay, your statement should outline the position you are going to take in your argument. It should be specific and arguable, which means it has to present a position or a point of view that can be clearly supported by evidence. For example, if the law essay research question required you to assess the effectiveness of a new legal reform, your thesis statement should argue whether the reform achieved its purpose. Your statement should also contain sufficient evidence that would support your stance. All evidence in a law essay has to be neutral and objective, meaning that you will have to support your evidence with facts and unbiased opinions.

Step 4. Plan your essay

Before you start writing a law essay and exploring criminal justice research topics, you have to make a detailed plan of your content. One of the best ways to approach your law essay is to use the IRAC method. The IRAC method is an abbreviated term that stands for Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion. The method offers a clear framework for analyzing legal issues in a logical sequence.

• Issue. Identify the main legal issue that has been presented in your legal case. 
• Rule. Determine the laws or legal principles that can be applied to the issue in question.
• Application. Apply the law to the specific case that you have, or use the context of your essay to apply the legal principles.
• Conclusion. Provide a brief conclusion for the audience based on the law application of your case.

Making an outline of your essay before you start will help you stay focused and ensure that your argument is logical, coherent, and structured according to the requirements. 

Step 5. Write the introduction 

The introduction is your chance to define the tone of your paper and provide an overview of what the paper is going to be about. A powerful introduction should include:

• A restatement of the essay question. The question should be restated using your own words. This will show the readers that you have understood the main research purpose correctly.
• Introduction of your thesis statement. You need to deliver a clear introduction of your thesis statement in a way that will be understood by your audience and will be easily comprehensible.
• Overview of your main arguments. The introduction of your law essay should always feature the key points of your case that you are going to cover in the body of the essay.

Your introduction should be as brief as possible: at this point, there is no sense in overwhelming your readers with too many details of your legal case. 

Step 6. Develop clear, analytical body paragraphs

The body of the law essay is where the main arguments of the paper are constructed. Here, you will need to demonstrate your thorough understanding of the legal case and legal issues. Each body paragraph should focus on a separate point of your research.

• You should start the body paragraphs with a clear topic sentence.
• You need to present the legal rule or principle that you are addressing.
• You have to apply the rule to the facts in a logical, rational way to demonstrate your understanding.
• You can use case laws, statutes, and available academic sources to summarize your arguments.
• Make sure you know how to use citations properly.
• Conclude each paragraph by summarizing your point and linking your points to the original thesis statement.

You also have to make sure that each paragraph flows from one to the next in a logical, coherent order. Your body paragraphs should not be confusing or hard to follow. The scholars have to maintain seamless transitions to maintain the overall structure of an essay.

Step 7. Write the conclusion

The conclusion is the final section of your essay that ties together all the arguments you have made in your body paragraphs. An effective conclusion should:

• Restate your thesis statement in light of the arguments that you have presented.
• Summarize the main points you have made in an essay.
• Provide a final judgment or conclusion based on your analysis.

You should never introduce new arguments or legal principles when writing a conclusion. The conclusion should only serve to reinforce your previous analysis and provide a satisfying closure.

Step 8. Review and edit

Once you are finished writing a law essay and drawing your points to a close, a proper review is in order. Despite a fair percentage of researchers skipping this step altogether, it is essential to ensure your essay is free from errors and well-argued. While doing a revision, consider the following key points:

• Make sure that each paragraph does not exist in a vacuum. In simpler terms, your body paragraphs should have a logical connection and contribute to the overall argument of the essay.
• Check your legal references and statutes. The information you provide on references, statutes, court laws, and evidence should be up-to-date and correspond to the existing legal databases.
• Pay special attention to your spelling and punctuation. It is no secret that legal writing requires utmost precision, with even minor errors undermining your professionalism and credibility as a law essay writer.
• Check the word count on your law essay. You should follow the specific requirements attached to your assignment and avoid unnecessary rambling or repetition. If the specific law can be squeezed into one sentence and explained briefly, do not make the description too lengthy or meandering. 

If possible, ask someone to review your essay before submitting it. A fresh perspective will help you spot errors and potential gaps in your research that you might have missed in the process of writing.

FAQ

What is the IRAC method in law essays?

The IRAC method is the most common structural approach method that you can use when writing law essays. It stands for Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion. The method is a saving grace for students, as it enables them to identify the legal issue, state the relevant law, apply it to the facts, and conclude with an outcome based on their analysis.

What are the common citation formats used in law essays?

The most common citation methods for law essays include OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities), Bluebook, and Harvard. The use of these formats will depend on the academic institution and jurisdiction, so you should always check the guidelines that have been provided by your professor. 

What sources are best for law essay research?

If you are doing law essay research, the best primary sources include case laws, statutes, and legal regulations. You can also use secondary sources such as academic journals, textbooks, legal commentaries, and case law reviews. These will provide you with additional context for analyzing a specific case, ensuring you have a methodical approach that you can use in your research process.