Writing for law students and those preparing to start the practice of law, Coughlin (director, Legal Research and Writing Program, Wake Forest University School of Law) uses graphics and numerous examples to demonstrate the variety of ways in which attorneys must assess legal problems and communicate that assessment to others in writing, in both traditional and electronic contexts. The book walks step by step through the process of developing and presenting a legal analysis, beginning with a description of the sources of law and how to weigh, synthesize, and organize those sources. Then, the book shows how to construct a variety of different types of legal arguments, from simple to sophisticated. Finally, it discusses how to present the legal analysis, whether in an office memorandum or in a professional e-mail. Because two of the book's co-authors teach law in the state of Oregon, most of the book's examples are based on Oregon law. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)