Article
Logic for Law Students: How to Think Like a Lawyer
Pittsburgh Law Review
(2007)
Abstract
Law schools no longer teach logic. In the authors' view this is tragic, given that the fundamental principles of logic continue to undergird the law and guide the thinking of judges. In an effort to reverse the trend, this essay explains the core principles of logic and how they apply in the law school classroom. The manuscript begins by examining the basics of the deductive syllogisms and then turns to inductive generalizations and the uses and abuses of analogies. The authors claim that students who master the basics of logic laid out in this article will be better lawyers and will feel more comfortable when they find themselves presenting arguments to judges and juries.
Keywords
- Logic,
- legal education,
- syllogism,
- deductive reasoning,
- inductive reasoning,
- reasoning,
- legal analysis
Disciplines
Publication Date
2007
Citation Information
Stephen Clowney. "Logic for Law Students: How to Think Like a Lawyer" Pittsburgh Law Review Vol. 69 (2007) p. 1 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephen-clowney/2/