Certificate in Legal Writing and Drafting

Legal Writing and Drafting is a skills-based and cross-cutting subject matter. Legal writing is merely the language of the law, where the working language of the law, English, is used as a medium to communicate, transmit, record and inform readers and audiences of the law. Legal drafting on the other hand relates to the drafting of legal documents which create legal relationships such as contracts, wills, trusts and conveyances; and the drafting of pleadings such as plaints, defences and applications arising from different causes of action; as well as the drafting of both principal and subsidiary legislation.

The Certificate in Legal Writing and Drafting is law course that targets advocates, lawyers and/or LL.B holders, law students, administrative secretaries, company secretaries, paralegals, administrative officers, and any other person interested in improving their writing and legal drafting skills.

Justification

Legal Writing and Drafting is not a substitute for the core procedural subjects but is rather designed to supplement them by creating an opportunity for a focused, standardised and harmonised approach to the teaching and learning of legal writing and drafting skills. It enables students to undertake intensive instruction on basic legal research, writing and drafting and to receive specific teaching on a wide range of aspects of legal writing and drafting as applicable to the practice of law.

Award

Students who successfully complete this course shall be awarded a Certificate in Legal Writing and Drafting     by Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU).