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Recent Articles from Karin Ciano
Legal Writing: Why hyperbole is a complete disaster
It’s that time of year again — when a bright-eyed group of recent law school graduates are sworn in to become lawyers. A time when we more seasoned lawyers make […]
Commentary: Legal Writing Notebook: A field guide to hunting snark
Let’s imagine a friend has asked you to read over her brief. She’s eloquent, persuasive, and her grammar and punctuation are beyond reproach. And then you see a snarky phrase. […]
Commentary: Legal Writing Notebook: IRAC, meet SSTR
In our first year of law school we learn the building blocks of legal argument — the concept of reasoning from precedent, and the IRAC (Introduction, Rule, Application, Conclusion) formula […]
Commentary: Legal Writing: The IRAC formula — resistance is futile
You remember IRAC, of course. Sometime in the first year of law school, most of us get acquainted with the Introduction-Rule-Application-Conclusion formula the way kids in kindergarten get to know […]
Commentary: Legal Writing Notebook: Abbreviation Nation
I can always spot a former law review editor. Maybe you can too: When you receive a colleague’s comments on a draft, have you ever found your abbreviations field-stripped, spaces […]
Commentary: To boldly emphasize what no one has emphasized before
A reader writes: “I would like to see you write a column condemning the epidemic of italicizing, bolding, and underlining in legal writing. Someone has to take a stand.” Done! […]
Commentary: Legal writing: One or two spaces after a period?
Few subjects arouse such irritation (on all sides) as the enduring question of how many spaces to put after a period at the end of a sentence. Some say two. […]
Commentary: Legal writing: Where to put your citations
So what do you think: Should citations be in text or footnotes? I’m a text fan myself. Despite Bryan Garner’s efforts over the past two decades, most recently in an […]
Case Digests
- Second Circuit – Long-arm jurisdiction: Northwell Health Inc. v. Group Hospitalization and Medical Services Inc.
- Fourth Department – Motor vehicle accident: Thurston v. Howard
- Western District Case Notes
- Fourth Department – Disclosure: People v. Smith
- Second Circuit – Petition for bail: Fulton v. Mullin
- Fourth Department – Breach of lease agreement: Three Buds, LLC v. NCTBP Calabrese LLC
- Second Circuit – Expert testimony: Rutledge v. Walgreen Co.; Phippen v. Walgreen Co.
- Second Circuit – Congestion pricing: County of Rockland v. Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Auth.
- Fourth Department – Apartment search: People v. Shaw
- Fourth Department – Vicarious liability: Sarah R. v. Crouse Health Hospital
- Fourth Department – Waiver of indictment: People v. Schindler
Law News
- New trial granted for defendant unhappy with their attorney
- NY appellate court reinstates medical malpractice case
- NY appeals court reinstates slip-and-fall lawsuit
- Charter Communications must pay penalty for retaliation against employee
- Webster resident named to lead national court reporter group
- NY appeals court affirms rape conviction, rejects speedy trial claim
- Telesca Center for Justice gets $90,000 in state funding
- Trevett Cristo P.C. celebrates 100th anniversary