Writing a criminal law research paper can seem like an intimidating task, but by breaking it down step-by-step it becomes more manageable. Here are the key things you need to do to write an outstanding criminal law research paper:
Choose a topic. The first step is selecting a topic to research. Good criminal law paper topics are usually narrow and focused on a specific area of criminal law like homicide, drug laws, search and seizure, etc. You can focus on analyzing a particular statute or criminal case. Make sure your topic is not too broad so it can be thoroughly researched within the assigned page limit.
Conduct background research. Once you have your topic, begin researching the basic background information related to your topic. Look at both primary sources like statutes and judicial opinions as well as secondary sources like law review articles, legal encyclopedias, and treatises. As you conduct background research, take detailed notes on the key facts, issues, arguments, and holdings of each source so you can easily refer to them later.
Formulate a thesis statement. After surveying the available background information, formulate a clear, focused thesis statement that presents your overall argument about your topic. Your thesis should tell the reader the narrow issue you will be analyzing and your position on that issue. For example, a thesis could be “By holding in Smith v. Johnson that eyewitness identification evidence obtained through unnecessarily suggestive police procedures violates a defendant’s due process rights, the Supreme Court appropriately balanced law enforcement interests with protecting defendants from wrongful convictions based on unreliable evidence.”
Create an outline. Use your thesis statement and background research notes to craft a detailed outline for your paper. The standard format for a legal research paper is an intro paragraph with your thesis, 3-5 body paragraphs analyzing your topic in more depth and supporting your thesis, and a conclusion paragraph restating your thesis and conclusions. Within each body paragraph, include a topic sentence, analysis of the issue with citations, and a concluding sentence linking it back to your overall argument.
Draft the paper. With your background research and outline completed, you are ready to draft the paper. Start with the introduction paragraph clearly stating the issue and your thesis. Then use the outline to draft 3-5 body paragraphs fully analyzing your topic and supporting your thesis with citations to primary and secondary sources. Be sure to embed quoted material properly and consistently cite sources using proper legal citation format (Bluebook, ALWD, etc.). Conclude by restated your thesis and conclusions.
Edit and refine the paper. Even after a full draft is written, your work is not done. Set the paper aside for a day or two and then carefully edit it for typos, grammar errors, clarity of analysis, logical flow, and consistent citations. Have your paper reviewed by your professor or a writing tutor. Make any necessary revisions based on the feedback. Ensure the final paper is polished and ready for submission.
Submit your paper and retain all edits and drafts if requested. Your final stage is submitting your criminal law paper prior to the deadline. As with any legal document, keep all previous drafts and edits in case the professor needs to reference them or if questions arise later about the writing and research process. With diligent effort following these steps, you can write an strong criminal law research paper that demonstrates deep understanding of your topic.
The keys to writing an excellent criminal law research paper are: choosing a narrow, focused topic; researching thoroughly; forming a clear thesis; outlining arguments and structure; drafting your analysis fully supported and cited; editing meticulously; and submitting a polished final product. Proper legal writing and critical examination of criminal law issues take time but yield insight and understanding of how the law operates in this complex field.