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Conclusion: The Purpose of Legal Writing. The purpose of legal writing extends beyond merely presenting facts and arguments; it shapes the very foundation of legal practice. This author cannot overstate the importance of legal writing – it is pivotal in advocating, informing, and persuading within the legal system.
Dec 10, 2020 · The most important maxim for legal writing is this: begin with your main point. Legal writing is not about building suspense. Usually, someone comes to a lawyer for an answer, and they would like it straight away. They do not care to puzzle out the answer from a disorganized pile of information. Be clear, comprehensive, and concise in offering ...
- ABSTRACT
- I. WHAT IT MEANS TO SAY THAT A LEGAL DOCUMENT IS WELL WRITTEN
- II. THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL QUALITIES THAT ENABLE GOOD LEGAL WRITING
- A. Good Legal Writing Is Clear
Law schools face increasing pressure to improve instruction in practice-oriented skills. One of the most important of these skills is legal writing. The existing literature on legal writing contains various rules and sugges-tions as to how legal writers can improve their writing skills. Yet it lacks an adequate theoretical account of the fundamenta...
Since the principal goal of this Article is to provide a systematic analysis of good legal writing, it is important as a preliminary mat-ter to explore what exactly it means to say that a legal document is well written. For without a clear conceptual understanding of ―good writing,‖ it is difficult to isolate its essential characteristics. Accord-i...
The previous Part argued that a legal document is well written if the writing facilitates legal decision-making. This Part advances a theory as to the fundamental qualities that enable legal writing to do this. It concludes that there are three such qualities: clarity, concise-ness, and the ability to engage the reader. It then discusses the na-tur...
While the existing literature on legal writing lacks a systematic analysis of the fundamental qualities of good legal writing, there does appear to be a consensus in the literature—as well as in the practice of law—that the chief hallmark of good legal writing is clari-ty. As Justice Benjamin Cardozo put it, ―there can be little doubt that in matte...
- Mark Osbeck
- 2012
Sep 22, 2023 · Legal writing in focus. As a lawyer, teacher, and director for the past 14 years of Harvard Law School’s First-Year Legal Research and Writing Program, Susannah Barton Tobin ’04 sees a lot of legal writing, some good, some less good. But she doesn’t entirely agree with the framing of a recent article in The Economist titled, “Why legal ...
Apr 12, 2019 · The importance of writing and drafting skills for lawyers should not be underestimated – mastered correctly, writing is a skill that will help you succeed in your legal career. A strong written ability is an essential skill for all lawyers , including legal secretaries , and should be practiced from the early stages of your career (particularly at university, or before you consider entering ...
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EAR AND ACTIVE LEGAL WRITING Despite the many long, convoluted, and legalese-filled opinions you’re likely to read in law school (and perhaps beyond), legal writing has evolved to priori. ize clarity and plain English. The following points will help you convey complex arguments and idea. y Long Paragraphs Be ConciseSome arguments are so ...
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Apr 24, 2024 · Whether you consider yourself a writer or not, legal writing is a necessary and important skill required for all legal professionals. From paralegals to lawyers to secretaries, legal writing is applicable to every legal professional (see, for example, our guide on communication and writing for paralegals). Legal writing tips to help you get started
