Like the very popular first edition, this second edition puts the reader in the place of a first-year attorney faced with real life assignments. In doing so, it teaches law students not only how to succeed in law school, but also how to succeed in the practice of law. Using graphics and visual samples, the book shows best practices in both traditional and electronic environments. Speaking to its readers in a straightforward manner, A Lawyer Writes communicates essential skills and theories so that they will be retained for a lifetime of legal practice.

There are two significant changes in the second edition of A Lawyer Writes. First, two new chapters have been added: Chapter 17, Client Letters, and Chapter 19, The Transition from Objective to Persuasive Writing. (What was Chapter 17, Professional E-mails, will appear as Chapter 18.) In addition, section 8.3, Applying the Law: Counter-Analyses, has been re-organized, but the content has remained the same. All other updates to the book are smaller edits that fix errors, create consistency, or further clarify an existing idea.