Using Demand Letters to Teach Persuasion and Professionalism

Of the many types of correspondence that lawyers write, demand letters are one of the most common, but demand letter assignments seldom appear in legal writing courses. Adding a demand letter to a legal writing course creates opportunities for the professor to reinforce persuasive writing skills, to discuss ethics and professional responsibility, and to teach professionalism and civility. This essay walks through these benefits and discusses how a professor can add a demand letter assignment to an existing course.