A new book, How to think, write and cite: Key skills for Irish law students, has been published by Round Hall as part of its Legal Skills Series. This is the first book on practical legal skills aimed specifically at an audience of Irish law students.
Its authors are Jennifer Schweppe of the School of Law, University of Limerick, Rónán Kennedy of the School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway, Dr. Elaine Fahey of the Faculty of Law, University of Amsterdam and PILA Manager (formerly School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway) Larry Donnelly. In the book's Foreword, Raymond Byrne, Director of Research with the Law Reform Commission, writes that:
"By following the advice in this book, you should be able to retain the good habits you learned up to now about writing well. In this digital age, writing clearly about the law is a necessity."
Chapters in the book cover legal thinking, reading judgments, reading legislation, legal writing, essay writing, exam writing and legal research. And as co-author Rónán Kennedy notes:
"The book is innovative in two ways: there is an associated website, www.legalwriting.ie, with interactive exercises; and it contains a comprehensive citation guide, OSCOLA Ireland, specifically for Irish legal materials, but based on the widely-accepted Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities."
PILA Manager Larry Donnelly comments that:
"We worked together on this project because we became increasingly aware of the need for a book on legal skills specifically for Irish law students. The common thread running through each of the topics we deal with is the need for students to practice working with the law and, in so doing, to cultivate and enhance their capacities for critical thought - to 'think like lawyers.'"
The book is available for purchase in university book shops and can be ordered online at www.roundhall.ie.