Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Forms and Practice Materials

Introduction    
I. Practice Forms II. Transactional Forms III.  Specialty Sets by Area of Law
IV. Legal Forms on the Web
V. Legal Drafting Advice on the Web

VI. Books on Writing:

Introduction

Rather than originally drafting documents, one can consult sample form materials.  Formbooks also may include explanations, checklists and annotations to primary and secondary sources. Some jurisdictions have prescribed official forms, so consult a jurisdiction's practice guides and forms before using general guides and forms.  As with all legal publications, be sure to check the date and recent supplements or pocket parts, as the law or court rules may have changed since publication.

To locate additional forms in the Law Library's collection, conduct a keyword search in SCHOLAR using the word "forms" and the word(s) of a legal subject (eg, probate) or jurisdiction (eg, Ohio). 

Finding Forms and Drafting Resources Power Point presentation

Also see Briefs, Motions & Pleadings

 

I.  PRACTICE FORMS

Designed for litigation procedures or other business before the courts and administrative agencies.  Often contain explanations and references to cases, statutory law,  law reviews and other practice aids.  Some sets deal with particular subjects or jurisdictions.  Sometimes the Ohio Revised Code contains form language as specified by a statute; check the index to the set. 

A.  GENERAL SETS 

American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated (West Group,  1967 - ) Reference KF 8836 .A45
Comprehensive collection of state and federal forms, checklists, and timetables for court cases. Includes statutory and procedural rules references, "how to" guidance, and commentary. This multi-volume set is updated annually and has indexes organized by topic and fact word.
Westlaw > AMJUR-PP

Causes of Action (West Group) First Series -Reference KF8863 .S53; Second Series- Reference KF8863.S532 - Elements of the Action, defenses, proof, remedies and damages, practice checklists, typically has sample complaint.
Westlaw>COA

American Jurisprudence Trials (West Group, 1964 - ) Reference KF 8915 .A74
Multi-volume set that includes model pleading, discovery and motion forms, sample opening and closing arguments, and sample litigation aids. Trial articles include techniques and strategies. Indexed and annually updated.
Westlaw > AMJUR-TRIALS

American Jurisprudence Proof of Facts, 3rd  Series ( West Group, 1988 - ) Reference KF 8933.A43
Advises on how to prepare a case through discussions of the elements of proof, evidentiary and practice considerations. This multi-volume set has a 3 volume general index. Updated annually.
Westlaw > AMJUR-POF

B.  OHIO PRACTICE SETS

Darling, Stanton G. II, Klein, James M., & Terez, Dennis G., Baldwin's Civil Practice (West  Group, 1997 - ) Reserve & Reference KFO 529 .A2
Three volume set provides rule by rule discussion of Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. One volume contains forms covering civil litigation with cross references to related text. Has index, table of cases, and table of statutes and rules. Updated annually.
Westlaw > OHPRAC-CIV

Anderson's Ohio Civil Practice with Forms (Anderson's Ohio Civil Practice: Pleading, Procedure, Forms) (LexisNexis, 2005- ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 530 .A82
Looseleaf set with forms, outlines, practice checklists, and index. Text includes applicability of rules, jurisdiction, venue, service, pleading, discovery, pretrial arbitration, post-judgment remedies, and appellate process. [This publication is gradually replacing Anderson's Ohio Civil Practice: Pleading, Procedure, Forms.]
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Forms & Drafting Instructions > Anderson's Ohio Civil Rules Practice with Forms

Milligan, William W, Ohio Forms of Pleading and Practice (Lexis Publishing (Matthew Bender), 1970 - ) Reserve & Reference KFO 535 .M5
Looseleaf set covering civil and criminal practice. Contains forms and annotations.  Separate index for civil and criminal volumes.  Covers Civil Rules, Appellate Procedure, Probate Practice, selected Special Proceedings, and Criminal and Juvenile Rules. Updated with supplements and revisions.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Forms & Drafting Instructions > Ohio Forms of Pleading and Practice

Ohio Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms - ONLY Online - Westlaw - OH-PP

Cioffi, Michael L., Ohio Pretrial Litigation 2nd ed. (Anderson Publishing Co., 1998 - ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 537 .C56
Guide to handling a civil case prior to trial with the corresponding forms.  This one volume treatise includes an index and is updated irregularly.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal > U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Pretrial Litigation Practice Manual

Elements of an Action (Thomson West 2006) - KFO530.E44 2007 [Reference] (Westlaw - OHPRAC-OEA )- lists the elements of various civil causes of action. "Elements" are what the plaintiff needs to prove to prevail upon a specific cause of action, such as breach of contract or defamation.  Contains: cites to case authority; cites to jury instructions or the text of a jury instruction; damages available; the statute of limitation; defenses; counterclaims; checklists and forms.

Ohio Motions in Limine (Westlaw 2008-) KFO540 .O34 (OHMIL) - For different types of evidence, provides suggested motions, cases in support and opposing. Also contains a chapter on motion in limine law.

Ohio Summary Judgment and Related Termination Motions KFO80 .M35 2008-2009 - Published by Westlaw, but not on Westlaw yet. Suggested motions, cases in support and opposing, briefs in support and opposing. CD-Rom of forms.

Ohio Judicial Conference, Ohio Jury Instructions (Anderson Publishing Co., 1968 - )  Reference & Ohio Room KFO 542 .A65 O36
Volume1 - General Instructions  -  applicable in any civil jury trial
Volume 2 and 3 - Instructions arranged by specific topic.
Volume  4 Criminal Instructions Updated as Jury Commission Amends.  Each volume has a general index.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal > U.S. > Ohio > Find Jury Instructions > Ohio Jury Instructions, Combined

Wolff, William H. Jr., Brogan, James A., McSherry Shauna K.,  Appellate Practice and Procedure in Ohio (Anderson Publishing Company, 2000) Ohio Room KFO 555 .W65 2000
Appellate forms section as well as some local appeals court forms.  Updated by supplements.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal > U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Appellate Practice and Procedure in Ohio

Ohio Appellate Practice, Cleveland, Ohio : Banks-Baldwin Law Pub. Co., 1991- Reserve & Reference & Ohio Room KFO 555 .W5
Annual Softbound publication with mostly text and a few forms.
Westlaw > OHAPP


See also web sites of particular courts, such as domestic relations and probate, in the Web section of this guide.

C.  FEDERAL PRACTICE SETS

Frumer, Louis R., Bender's Federal Practice Forms (Lexis Publishing (Matthew Bender),  1978 -) Reference KF 8836 .F78
Contains forms for practice in Federal Courts "from initial filing of an action to appealing a case." Multi-volume set has cross references to  applicable statutes, treatises, and law review articles.  Looseleaf set as a one volume index and is updated with revisions.
LexisNexis > Legal > Secondary Legal > Matthew Bender(R) > By Area of Law > Federal Practice > Bender's Federal Practice Forms

West's Federal Forms (West Group, 1952 -) KF 8836 .W4
Contains forms arranged by "type of proceeding (civil and criminal) and the court to which they pertain." Includes index, table of statutes, and court rules.  Covers United States Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, Civil and Criminal District Courts, bankruptcy and admiralty proceedings. Updated annually.
Westlaw > FEDFORMS

Federal Procedural Forms, Lawyers Edition (West Group, 1975 - ) KF 8836 .F4 Guidance in drafting forms and provides procedural checklists for proceedings before Federal Courts and Administrative Agencies.  Updated annually, 3 volume general index.
Westlaw > FEDPROF

Sand, Leonard B., Modern Federal Jury Instructions (Lexis Publishing (Matthew Bender), 1984 - KF 8984 .A65 M6
LexisNexis >Legal > Secondary Legal > Matthew Bender(R) > By Area of Law > Federal Practice > Modern Federal Jury Instructions

D.  SPECIALTY SETS

Stern, Robert L., Supreme Court Practice: For Practice in the Supreme Court of the United States 8th ed. (Bureau of National Affairs, 2002)  Reserve KF 9057 .S8 2002 Appendix IV has samples of forms used in connection with practice before the  U. S. Supreme Court.

Bender's Forms of Discovery (Lexis Publishing (Matthew Bender), 1963 -  ) Reference KF 8900 .A3 B4
"Compilation of forms, practice and procedure on modern discovery designed to enable lawyers to elicit from adverse parties such information as may be essential to adequate preparation for trial."   Indexed and updated but no schedule provided.
LexisNexis > Secondary Legal > Matthew Bender(R) > By Area of Law > Federal Practice This link (once you log in) will take you to a page where you can choose what portion of the title to search.

Pattern Discovery Series - Contains discovery techniques and strategies for interrogatories, depositions, and requests for production of documents.  Includes sample questions and checklist for the particular type of action.  Each set indexed and updated annually.

Danner, Douglas, and Varn Larry L., Pattern Discovery Employment Discrimination 2nd ed.   (West Group, 1994 -  )  Reference KF 8900 .D32
Westlaw > PDED

Danner, Douglas, and Varn Larry L., Pattern Discovery Premises Liability 3rd ed. (West Group, 1995 -  )  Reference KF8900 .D366
Westlaw > PDPREML

Danner, Douglas, and Varn Larry L., Pattern Discovery Products Liability 3rd ed. (West Group, 1995 - ) Reference KF 8900 .A3 D35 1995 Westlaw > PDPRODL

Danner, Douglas, Pattern Discovery Tort Actions 3rd ed. (West Group, 1994 -  )  Reference KF 8900 .D332 1994
Westlaw > PDTORT

 

II.  TRANSACTIONAL FORMS

Instruments designed for specific legal transactions such as contracts, leases, wills, and deeds.

A.  GENERAL SETS

American Jurisprudence Legal Forms 2d (West Group, 1971 ) Reference KF 170 .A542
Alphabetically arranged multi volume set of legal forms, with a detailed index, that is updated annually. Each volume contains form drafting guides, text discussion, notes on use, and sample forms. Provides references to West Key Number System and American Jurisprudence 2d.
Westlaw > AMJUR-LF

West's Legal Forms (West Group, 1990 - ) Reference KF 170 .W47
Provides forms, commentary, analysis, and checklists for drafting transactional documents.  Covers areas such as: Business Organizations, Debtor-Creditor Relations, Elder Law, and Service Agreements.  Includes index and table of statutes and rules.  References to West's Key Number System.  Updated Annually.
Westlaw > WEST-LF

Rabkin & Johnson Current Legal Forms with Tax Analysis - Lexis - CLFTA

Nichols Cyclopedia of Legal Forms -Atrium Level KF170 .N5 , Westlaw-NICHOLS-LF

B.  OHIO SETS

Swisher, Thomas R., Ohio Forms and Transactions: OFT (West Group, 1989 - )  Reserve & Reference KFO 68 .S94
Civil transaction forms in a three volume set; updated annually. Forms include alternative or optional language to aid in revising documents.

Couse, Harold Ambrose, Couse's Ohio Form Book 6th ed. rev. & updated (Anderson Publishing Co., 2003 - ) Reserve & Reference KFO 68 .C65
Looseleaf set with limited selection of forms. Topical arrangement covers business law, commercial transactions, domestic relations, estate planning and probate,  professional relationships, and real property.  References to Ohio Revised Code, federal statutes, and cases. Includes index, and updated annually.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Forms & Drafting Instructions > Couse's Ohio Form Book

Ohio Transaction Guide: Legal Forms (Lexis Publishing (Matthew Bender), 1975 - ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 213 .A65 O35
Provides research tools, analysis, practice tips, checklists, and forms pertaining to business entities, wills, trusts, real estate, commercial transactions, and personal transactions. Looseleaf; updated twice a year. Has an index volume.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. Ohio > Search Forms & Drafting Instructions > Ohio Transaction Guide

Ohio Forms: Practice-Oriented Forms for Ohio Legal and Business Transactions (West Group, 1970 - ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 68 .035
This Ohio specific multi-volume set contains practice oriented standard legal and business forms. Includes index. Updated annually.
Westlaw > OH-LF

 

III.  SPECIALTY SETS BY AREA OF LAW

These sets deal with particular areas of practice. Often they combine procedural and transactional forms.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Grenig, Jay E., Alternative Dispute Resolution with Forms (West Group,  1997 - ) KF 9084 .G74
Westlaw > ADR

BANKRUPTCY

Norton Jr., William L. , Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice: Annotated Forms (West Group,  1991 - ) KF 1520 .N678
Westlaw > NRTN-BLP

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS / CORPORATIONS

Anderson's Ohio Corporation Law Handbook (Anderson Publishing Co., 2000 - ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 213 .A65 S43
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Corporation Law

Jacobs, William R., The Ohio Close Corporation: Planning and Organization (Anderson Publishing Co., 1996 - ) Reserve KFO 215 .C55 J33 1996
 LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Close Corporation

Blackford, Jason C., Blackford Business Organizations (West Group, 1996 - ) Reserve & Reference & Ohio Room KFO 205 .B53 2004
 Westlaw > OHPRAC-BUS

Fletcher Corporation Forms Annotated - Westlaw FLTR-FRM

CONTRACTS

Warren's Forms of Agreements - Lexis-WRRNF

Williston on Contract Forms -  KF801 .L67 1990 - Westlaw - WILLSTN-FM

CREDITOR/DEBTOR

Botti, James P., Ohio Creditors' Rights (Anderson Publishing Co., 1993 - ) Reserve & Ohio Room KFO 220 .B67
 LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Creditors' Rights

CRIMINAL LAW

Anderson's Ohio Criminal Practice and Procedure (Anderson Publishing Co., 1997 - ) Reserve & Reference KFO 561 .A95 2005
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Criminal Practice and Procedure

Katz, Lewis R. & Gianelli, Paul C., Katz Gianelli Criminal Law ( West Group, 1996 - )  Reserve & Reference KFO 561 .K38 2003
 Westlaw > OHPRAC-CRIM

Ohio Felony Sentencing Law (West Group, 1996 - ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 583.2 .G7433
Westlaw > OHFSL

DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Sowald, Beatrice & Morganstern, Stanley eds., Sowald Morganstern Domestic Relations Law 4th ed. (West Group, 2002 - ) Reserve & Reference & Ohio Room KFO 94 .A6 B34
 Westlaw > OHPRAC-DOM

Anderson's Ohio Family Law 2nd ed. (Anderson Publishing Co., 1989 - ) Reserve & Reference  KFO 94 .A5
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Family Law

LAND USE LAW

Handling the Land Use Case : Land Use Law, Practice & Forms, 3rd Ed. / John J. Delaney, Stanley D. Abrams, Frank Schnidman (Thomson/West, 2005-) KF5698 .D45 2005
 Westlaw > LANDUSELAW

MUNICIPAL

Local Government Law--Municipal / John E. Gotherman, Harold W. Babbit and James F. Lang (West Group, 2004 - ) Reserve & Ohio Room KFO431.A6 G67
Westlaw > OHMUNL

Matthews, Byron S., Municipal Ordinances: Texts and Forms, 2d ed. (West Group, 1972 - )  KF 5313 .M3
Westlaw > MUNIORD

Shimp. William B. & Pines, Dennis, Baldwin's Ohio Township Law: With Text and Forms 4th ed.(West Group, 1975 - ) Reserve KFO 430 .A3
 Westlaw > OHTWPL

PROBATE

Anderson's Ohio Probate Practice and Procedure (Anderson Publishing Co., 1997 - ) Reserve & Reference KFO 144 .A93 Three volume set with text, checklists, and outlines.
LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Probate Practice and Procedure

Maag, Marilyn J., The Simple Will in Ohio (LexisNexis Matthew Bender, 1996 - ) Reserve & Reference & Ohio Room KFO 144 .A15 S57 Single volume with some forms. Annual supplements. LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's The Simple Will in Ohio

Carlin, Angela G., Merrick-Rippner Probate Law (West Group, 1997 - ) Reserve & Reference & Ohio Room KFO 144 .M4 Three volume set with text, forms, and mortality tables.
Westlaw > OHPRAC-PROB

REAL ESTATE

White, Frederic, Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law (West Group, 1997 - ). Reference & Ohio Room KFO 117 .Z9 W5 Single volume with easy-to-read question-and-answer format. Covers lease applications, lease and rental agreements, tenant and landlord letters, rent deposits, and pleadings. Significant cases from other states also mentioned.
Westlaw > OHLDTL

Kenton L. Kuehnle and Jack S. Levey, Ohio Real Estate Law and Practice (West Group, 1993 - ) Reserve KFO 112 .H362
Westlaw > OHRELP

Curry, Robert M. & Durham, James Jeffrey, Ohio Real Property Law and Practice 5th ed. (Lexis Publishing (Michie), 1996 - ) Reference & Ohio Room KFO 112 .M32 1996
 LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Ohio Real Property Law and Practice

SCHOOL LAW

Kimball, Carey H., Anderson's Ohio School Law Guide (Anderson Publishing Co., 2002 -  )  Reserve & Ohio Room KFO390 .B342 LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio School Law Guide

SECURITIES

Friedman, Howard M., Ohio Securities Law and Practice 2005 ed. (Anderson Publishing Co.,  1997 - ) Reserve & Ohio Room KFO 179 .F75 1996
 LexisNexis > Legal > States Legal - U.S. > Ohio > Search Analysis & CLE Materials > All OH Treatises & Analytical Materials > Anderson's Ohio Securities Law and Practice

Jacobs, Arnold S., Manual of Corporate Forms for Securities Practice (West Group, 1981 - )  KF1437 .J33
Westlaw > SECMCORPF

TAX

See Web section of this guide for IRS website for federal forms and Ohio Department of Taxation for state forms. 

UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE

Hart, Frederick M. and Willier, William F., Forms and Procedures Under the Uniform Commercial Code (Lexis Publishing (Matthew Bender), 1977 - ) KF 890 .B4 v.5
LexisNexis > Legal > Secondary Legal > Matthew Bender(R) > By Area of Law > Commercial Law > Forms & Procedures Under the UCC

Betsos, Peter J., Modern UCC Litigation Forms (Lexis Publishing Matthew Bender), 1969 - ) KF 890 .B4 V4

 

IV.  LEGAL FORMS ON THE WEB

Forms Collections Attorney Work Product Court & Agency Forms

 

See:Finding Practice Tools Power Point  and FINDING PRACTICE TOOLS word doc 

Forms Collections

Officekeeper - forms for opening and maintaining a law practice, free to Ohio State Bar Association members. OSBA members can join for free. OSBA members also have access to power of attorney forms vis the OSBA site.

Findlaw Forms
Free business forms provided by Findlaw and links to: court forms, government forms, forms on certain topics and links to other forms collections on the web.

Get Free Legal Forms - Hundreds of forms, downloadable as word documents for easy editing

'Lectric Law Library Forms Room
Collection of forms divided into two categories:
Law Practice Forms (Letters, Law Practice Litigation)
Business & General (Credit & Debt, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts & Wills, Business Entities, Contracts, Employment & Contracting, Promissory Notes, Real Estate). "Premium Forms" cost money.

All About Forms.com
From allaboutlaw.com. This site sells legal services plans and financial plans. A collection of over 5,000 legal forms, registered users get free access to over 2,000.

WashLaw Legal Forms
This site does not provide forms, but links to form archives - both free and fee. There are also links to forms collections on other websites arranged by categories such as: state & federal court forms, UCC forms, workers' compensation forms, corporation and partnership forms. 

LexisONE Automated Forms
Free forms and fee based forms available.  Registration required to access free forms.  Forms are divided into topical (eg, estate planning, real estate) and jurisdictional (eg, Ohio) areas. Some of these forms are HotDocs, which will ask you questions, and then fill out the forms with your answers. Download the free Hotdocs Player to use.

Legal Forms Menu
From the Internet Legal Resource Guide  links to free  form sites on the web.

Gale LegalForms   
Accessible with a Clevnet library card number and PIN. "Provides a wide selection of Ohio legal forms across the most popular legal areas. Includes real estate contracts, wills, pre-marital agreements, bankruptcy, divorce, landlord tenant and many others."

CORI: Contracting and Organizations Research Institute 
A database of contracts taken from the SEC Edgar database.  Requires free registration.

Home Business Online Legal Forms
Forms are free. It is a commercial site that sell products and offers some free info to home based entrepreneurs

Legal & Business Forms
Legal-form-skit.com - Commercial site that sells legal forms, and offers some for free.

WorldLawDirect 
This site sells legal services.  Lawyers author the site. Free forms are in word format.

Freelegalforms.net
From allaboutlaw.com. This site sells legal services plans and financial plans.

GiveAway Legal Forms
Free forms written by attorneys.

 

Shared Legal Document Websites:

Attorneys upload pleadings and transactional forms they authored to the web:

JDSupra - Documents are tied to attorney profiles

Scribd

DocStoc

NPADO.org - free HotDocs templates available for non-commercial use only.

Other sources for attorney work product:

SEC Edgar/IDEA database -Publicly traded companies must file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Not only a great source for sample SEC filings, other documents can be attached to these reports, such as: management contracts, executive compensation plans, articles of incorporation and by-laws, material contracts, voting trust agreements and more. See Item 601, Regulation S-K.

There are other databases of SEC filings with more sophisticated searching. These include pay databases such as Lexis and Westlaw, GSI, Mergent (available to Cleveland Public Library card holders), and free databases such as SECInfo.com.

Court Dockets - If the docket allows access to the full text of the pleadings and motions. See LLRX Court Rules Forms and Docketsand Resources for Online Court Dockets; Court Web Pages and Dockets.

General Internet Searching - Try a general Internet search engine, such as Google, or a Legal Search engine

Court and Government Agency Forms

Agency Forms

Forms.gov
Contains many forms issued by federal agencies as well as a link to state resources. 

USA Fed Forms.com
A commercial site offering free Federal forms. The site claims to have more forms, and more fillable forms than Forms.gov. Fillable forms can be filled out directly on the web and printed out, but can not be saved to your computer.

Internal Revenue Service Forms
Tax forms (dating to 1992), instructions, and publications.

State of Ohio - Agency Forms
Lists of the state's most requested forms. 

Ohio Department of Taxation Forms
Has income tax forms from 1995 onward, fill-in forms, and other tax forms (municipal income tax forms, sales & use tax forms)

Casemaker - Has forms for some Ohio agencies. Casemaker is accessible from the public access terminals in the law library, or remotely to OSBA members.

Cleveland Law Library - How to Find an Ohio Form and Self Help (scroll down to forms section)

 

Court Forms

Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio:

Also see: Domestic/Juvenile Court - Franklin County

Ohio Court of Appeals Forms

Ohio Federal Court Forms

Federal Court Forms

Federal Court Forms in Plain English - US Courts Website, civil and criminal forms

Court forms for other states:

Research Guides:

Zimmerman's Legal Research Guide - Forms

 

V. Legal Drafting Advice on the Web

Articles

Legal Drafting: An Outline, Kathleen A. Miller, SSRN Working Paper Series.

Writing Tips for the Transactional Attorney, Gisela M. Munoz, 21 Practical Real Estate Lawyer 33 (May 2005).

The Ten Worst Faults in Drafting Contracts, Duke A. McDonald, Journal of the Missouri Bar, July/August 2007.

Boilerplate Terms, Rules of Interpretation and Developments in Drafting Contracts, Curt Langley and Jason Martin, Presented at the CLE Seminar, "Corporate Counsel Update", May 29, 2003.

Drafting: An Essential Skill, Harold A. Segall , Fordham Urban Law Journal, Jan. 2003.

A Crash Course in Plain Language Legal Drafting, Cheryl Stephens, Nov. 1999.

Blogs

AdamsDrafting Blog

Legal Writing Blog - search for terms such as "drafting" "transactional drafting" etc

Other

Drafting Legal Documents - written by the National Archives, to help federal agencies with their drafting.

Common Contract Drafting Mistakes - tips from a site selling legal forms.

Free Legal Drafting Tips - tips from a site selling legal forms.

 

VI. Books on Writing...

A. Transactional Documents

The redbook : a manual on legal style,2nd ed , / Bryan A. Garner with Jeff Newman, Tiger Jackson, West Group, c2006 KF250 .G375 2006.

Legal usage in drafting corporate agreements / Kenneth A. Adams KF250 .A32 2001

The Aspen handbook for legal writers : a practical reference / Deborah E. Bouchoux KF250 .B68 2005

Legal drafting in a nutshell / by Thomas R. Haggard KF250 .H343 1996

Drafting and analyzing contracts : a guide to the practical application of the principles of contract law / Scott J. Burnham 3rd ed Lexis KF807 .B87 2003

Legal method and writing / Charles R. Calleros 5th ed. KF250 .C345 2006

Writing for law practice / Elizabeth Fajans, Mary R. Falk, Helene S. Shapo KF250 .F353 2004

Legal drafting : process, techniques, and exercises / by Thomas R. Haggard Westlaw KF250 .H345 2003

The elements of contract drafting : with questions and clauses for consideration / George W. Kuney St. Paul, MN : Thomson West, c2003 KF807 .K86 2003

For article citations see: Legal Writing Beyond Memos and Briefs: An Annotated Bibliography
Carrie W. Teitcher, Journal of the Association of Legal Writing Directors, Volume 5, Fall 2008, p.133 (via Westlaw).

B. Pleadings and Motions

Legal writing and other lawyering skills / by Nancy L. Schultz, Louis J. Sirico, Jr 4th ed Newark, NJ : LexisNexis, 2004 KF250 .S38 2004 (Jury Verdicts, Motions, Pleadings, Settlement Agreements)

Beyond the basics : a text for advanced legal writing / by Mary Barnard Ray and Barbara J. Cox St. Paul, 2nd ed., MN : Thomson/West, KF250 .R38 2003 c2003 (Jury Verdicts, Motions, Pleadings)

The redbook : a manual on legal style,2nd ed , / Bryan A. Garner with Jeff Newman, Tiger Jackson, West Group, c2006 KF250 .G375 2006. (Motions, Pleadings)

Writing for law practice / Elizabeth Fajans, Mary R. Falk, Helene S. Shapo KF250 .F353 2004 (Motions, Pleadings)

The Aspen handbook for legal writers : a practical reference / Deborah E. Bouchoux KF250 .B68 2005 (Pleadings)

Legal method and writing / Charles R. Calleros 5th ed. KF250 .C345 2006 (Pleadings)

For article citations see: Legal Writing Beyond Memos and Briefs: An Annotated Bibliography
Carrie W. Teitcher, Journal of the Association of Legal Writing Directors, Volume 5, Fall 2008, p.133 (via Westlaw).

 

C. Client Letters

The redbook : a manual on legal style,2nd ed , / Bryan A. Garner with Jeff Newman, Tiger Jackson, West Group, c2006 KF250 .G375 2006.

The Aspen handbook for legal writers : a practical reference / Deborah E. Bouchoux KF250 .B68 2005

Legal method and writing / Charles R. Calleros 5th ed. KF250 .C345 2006

Legal writing and analysis / Linda H. Edwards 2nd ed KF250 .E378 2007

Writing for law practice / Elizabeth Fajans, Mary R. Falk, Helene S. Shapo KF250 .F353 2004

The legal writing handbook : analysis, research, and writing / Laurel Currie Oates, Anne Enquist , 4th ed. KF250 .O18 2006

Legal writing and other lawyering skills / by Nancy L. Schultz, Louis J. Sirico, Jr 4th ed Newark, NJ : LexisNexis, 2004 KF250 .S38 2004

Legal reasoning, writing, and persuasive argument / Robin S. Wellford Newark, NJ : LexisNexis Matthew Bender, 2006 KF250 .W436 2006

For article citations see: Legal Writing Beyond Memos and Briefs: An Annotated Bibliography
Carrie W. Teitcher, Journal of the Association of Legal Writing Directors, Volume 5, Fall 2008, p.133 (via Westlaw).

 

SMC 9/7/2005, SA 3/08


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