How to Write a Judicial Review Essay

In legal studies, a judicial review is an essay that analyzes the judgment of a court case. It is part of the research process in preparing for law exams, although some universities may also require students to write judicial reviews as part of their coursework. 

A judicial review essay must be written according to strict guidelines set down by your professor or examiner. However, you can also write these essays to show your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

And in their writing, certain vital aspects must be noted if you are to churn out a good piece effectively. But before then, here is a quick preview of these essays.

What is a Judicial Review Essay 

A judicial review essay is a formal analysis of a court case written in the first person as if you were the judge. The writing style is formal and persuasive, with a strong argument for or against the decision. The paper will reference legal precedent to support its claims.

To write an effective judicial review essay, you should understand this type of essay. A judicial review essay evaluates the judging process and results in a particular case. 

The purpose of such an essay is to determine whether or not the judge’s decision was fair or just based on the evidence presented. It can also evaluate whether or not the judgment made by the court was consistent with previous similar cases and, if so, how it differed from them as well as other cases not mentioned in the argumentative paper at all.

Structure of a judicial review essay

The structure of a judicial review essay will vary depending on the type of essay you are writing. However, some basic guidelines should be followed no matter what kind of paper you are writing. 

The following is a breakdown of some of the main points to keep in mind when writing your judicial review essay:

• Introduction. This section should state the purpose of your paper and provide an overview of the issue being discussed.
• Body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should discuss one aspect of the issue and provide examples and evidence to support that claim.
• Conclusion. The conclusion should restate your position on the argument and summarize the major points made in your paper.
• Evaluation criteria. Each point must be evaluated using specific criteria relevant to the topic.

Tips for writing a judicial review essay

The following tips will help you write a perfect judicial review essay.

1. Start early enough 

It’s essential to start writing early because these essays require a lot of time. Further, beginning early enough helps you to have time to make changes whenever needed. Generally, a long paper will require you to make revisions, so it’s better if those revisions can be made before the deadline rather than at the last minute. 

Also, starting allows you to receive your professor’s feedback and incorporate any feedback into your final draft. If possible, try not just one or two drafts of your essay but three or four or even more so that if one version doesn’t work out as well as planned, there are other versions to fall back on.

The worst thing about starting late is having an incomplete paper with no time left for additional research or revision before the deadline.

2. Explore arguments for and against the issue

To identify arguments, you must look at both sides of the issue. The best way to do this is by looking at secondary sources such as books or articles. You can also find arguments in court decisions, speeches, and newspaper articles.

When you’re trying to come up with evidence for or against an issue, think about what people say about it when they talk about it. For example, if a government official says that something should be done one way, but there’s another argument that suggests otherwise, this provides evidence for why it may be necessary to do something else instead.

An excellent way to identify arguments worth exploring further is by considering questions like “why?”. Why does this happen? Why does this matter? What impact does it have? How does this relate to other things happening around us?

3. Read the Case Carefully

When writing a judicial review essay, it’s important to read the case carefully. You must understand the case and why it is important for your argument. It’s also helpful to know about other cases related to this one so you can cite them in your paper.

Further, reading the case helps you get as much information as possible, thus writing your essay in an accurate and relevant way. Some information to look out for includes relevant facts, background information, and events leading up to the incident. You should also look at related cases and laws if any apply.

4. Write an Outline

Before you start writing your paper, create an outline that includes all of the main points of your argument. This will help keep you on track as you write your essay and help ensure everything is organized correctly.

Further, an outline will guide your writing process and make it easier to get your points across. It should be brief but comprehensive enough so that you can refer to it at any time during your writing process. 

This is because you don’t want to find yourself stuck in the middle of writing and forgetting what you want to say.

In addition to helping you keep track of all your ideas, an outline will help you organize them into a logical order. This will make it easier for readers to follow along with your argument and understand what you’re trying to say with each point.

5. Do thorough research Fully

Research helps you develop critical facts and data that present you as an expert. This also enables you to say things accurately and in a well-informed way. Look for other relevant cases, laws, and regulations that may impact this decision. 

Also, look for articles or papers about this case or similar ones that could help support your argument. 

6. Explain key points in detail

The body of your judicial review essay should contain paragraphs that explain each key point you wish to make. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that clearly states what it will discuss. 

The rest of each paragraph should provide supporting evidence for this point using relevant examples from the case or related cases. You must understand critical issues and explain them clearly so others can understand them too. Also, you should try not to use complex language or legal jargon unless absolutely necessary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, judicial review may seem like a scary concept to you, but it’s not impossible to understand. And the key to a successful essay is simply in the planning, preparation, and research. If you stick to these three principles, you should have no trouble with the actual writing. 

Further, other tips include studying the case, writing the outline, and starting early. Implementing these tips will set you apart from other law students and help you become an expert in judicial essay writing.

So if you need to write a judicial review essay, remember these steps and trust your writing skills to guide you through the process.