Research the topic of your paper. Though class requirements may vary, most law instructors want you to provide authoritative references. Visit your school's law library to look up past cases and to read court opinions that are relevant to your topic. You can also visit the Internet to conduct research through sites like Lexis (lexis.com) and Westlaw (westlaw.com) that provide legal reference materials.
Create an outline to help structure your paper. Divide your outline into sections. List the issue or topic of your paper, the rule or law relevant to the issue, the argument you will make that serves as the main body of the paper, and the conclusion, which is your opinion of the legal aspects and outcome of the issue. Write a few short sentences under each section that summarizes the main points you want to make.
Write a rough draft using the outline. Write an introduction that ends with a strong thesis statement. Ensure the main body of your paper uses legal references to support every point included in your main thesis.
Break the issue down into the form of a question if you are writing an analysis of a legal matter. For example, if you are arguing that police officers should be allowed to search any suspect's house without a search warrant, you could write, "Should the state stop police officers from searching a suspect's house or vehicle without a warrant if a delay would cause the loss of material evidence?"
Present a strong opinion and state how you will support your thesis with case law If you are writing an argumentative paper on a legal issue or case.
Write a conclusion that summarizes the points you made in the main body of the paper. Use one or two specific points to encapsulate your paper and to make a final argument about the legal issue. In an argumentative paper, the conclusion should restate your opinion on the issue. In an analysis paper, your conclusion should recap the facts for the reader.