Legal Writing in Plain English

Legal Writing in Plain English

Author: Bryan A. Garner

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2013-08-26

Total Pages: 285

ISBN-13: 022603139X

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“This easy-to-follow guide is useful both as a general course of instruction and as a targeted aid in solving particular legal writing problems.” —Harvard Law Review Clear, concise, down-to-earth, and powerful—all too often, legal writing embodies none of these qualities. Its reputation for obscurity and needless legalese is widespread. For more than twenty years, Bryan A. Garner’s Legal Writing in Plain English has helped address this problem by providing lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars with sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work. The leading guide to clear writing in the field, this indispensable volume encourages legal writers to challenge conventions and offers valuable insights into the writing process that will appeal to other professionals: how to organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills. Accessible and witty, Legal Writing in Plain English draws on real-life writing samples that Garner has gathered through decades of teaching. Trenchant advice covers all types of legal materials, from analytical and persuasive writing to legal drafting, and the book’s principles are reinforced by sets of basic, intermediate, and advanced exercises in each section. In this new edition, Garner preserves the successful structure of the original while adjusting the content to make it even more classroom-friendly. He includes case examples from the past decade and addresses the widespread use of legal documents in electronic formats. His book remains the standard guide for producing the jargon-free language that clients demand and courts reward. “Those who are willing to approach the book systematically and to complete the exercises will see dramatic improvements in their writing.” —Law Library Journal


Modern Legal Drafting

Modern Legal Drafting

Author: Peter Butt

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2006-10-23

Total Pages: 282

ISBN-13: 9781139459402

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In the second edition of this highly regarded text, the authors show how and why traditional legal language has developed the peculiar characteristics that make legal documents inaccessible to the end users. Incorporating recent research and case law, the book provides a critical examination of case law and the rules of interpretation. Detailed case studies illustrate how obtuse or outdated words, phrases and concepts can be rewritten, reworked or removed altogether. Particularly useful is the step-by-step guide to drafting in the modern style, using examples from four types of common legal documents: leases, company constitutions, wills and conveyances. Readers will gain an appreciation of the historical influences on drafting practice and the use of legal terminology. They will learn about the current moves to reform legal language, and receive clear instruction on how to make their writing clearer and their legal documents more useful.


Language on Trial

Language on Trial

Author: Plain English Campaign

Publisher: Robson Books Limited

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13:

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This book looks at the forces that have made traditional legal language what it is today and suggests some reasoms why the law needs plain English. It also shows why most of its peculiarities are unnecessary.


Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please

Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please

Author: Joseph Kimble

Publisher:

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781531024543

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Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please seeks to change public and legal writing--by making the ultimate case for plain language. The book gathers a large body of evidence for two related truths: using plain language can save businesses and government agencies a ton of money, and plain language serves and satisfies readers in every possible way. It also debunks the ten biggest myths about plain writing and looks back on 50 highlights in plain-language history. The first edition was described by reviewers as "powerful," "compelling," "inspiring," and "astounding." This second edition has been updated and expanded throughout. Professor Joseph Kimble is a leading international expert on this subject. Here is the book that sums up his important work, with a message that is vital to every government writer, business writer, and attorney.


Basic Legal Drafting

Basic Legal Drafting

Author: Anne Rutledge

Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub

Published: 2012-12-01

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 9781480257146

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BASIC LEGAL DRAFTING offers down-to-earth instruction on how to draft well-organized and clearly articulated legal documents. A culmination of twenty-five years of teaching in the highly regarded Legal Drafting Program at the University of Florida College of Law, the book is designed to be used as a resource for law students and practicing attorneys, as well as a textbook for drafting classes. The text is particularly strong in its discussions of how to organize a document, often the most difficult task facing a drafter and typically under-addressed in other drafting manuals. Equally useful are the very concrete recommendations on how to articulate the language of a document in order to achieve clarity and precision. The text helpfully distinguishes traditional drafting principles from common conventions and stylistic preferences. The litigation chapter addresses complaints, answers and motions. Useful examples range from a simple negligence complaint to a complex statutory-based multi-count complaint and appropriate responses. The contracts chapter includes an extensive discussion, with examples, on how to create for any contract a logical, coherent framework that underlines the drafter's (and presumably the client's) intentions. The chapter addresses in detail the articulation of particular provisions, including definitions, termination and exculpatory provisions. Its comprehensive discussion of how to recognize and avoid various types of ambiguity will prove useful beyond the contract drafting context. The legislation chapter identifies common legislative protocols and applies, within those protocols, many of the organization and articulation principles set out in the contracts chapter. While the text uses litigation documents, contracts and legislation as the bases for its discussions, Basic Legal Drafting offers practical, realistic advice and instructions that will be useful to the drafter of any type of legal document.


Legal Drafting in a Nutshell

Legal Drafting in a Nutshell

Author: Thomas R. Haggard

Publisher: West Academic Publishing

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 532

ISBN-13:

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Haggard's Legal Drafting in a Nutshell provides guidelines for producing documents that serve the client's needs, solve existing problems, and prevent future problems. Authoritative coverage overviews the general drafting process and offers tips on getting started. Provides guidelines for drafting within the law and choosing the proper concept. Also identifies ambiguities, definitions, and drafting ethics.


Plain Language Legal Writing

Plain Language Legal Writing

Author: Cheryl Stephens

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2008-07

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 0557014506

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A complete guide to clean, precise and understandable legal writing So many books give you advice that turns out to be hollow: "know your audience," "structure your writing." The real strength in Plain Language Legal Writing is how, throughout, Stephens provides clear instructions on how to accomplish what she's recommending. Instead of just telling you to plan what you're going to write, she walks you step-by-step through the planning. Instead of telling you to consider your audience before writing, she describes in detail the sorts of audiences a legal document might have (more than you'd expect!) and how to best meet their needs. Plain Language Legal Writing will help you produce documents that people are willing to read and able to understand. More: PlainLanguageLegalWriting.comOther versions: e-book


Plain Language Pleadings

Plain Language Pleadings

Author: Carol Ann Wilson

Publisher:

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13:

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"Legal writing is a mess", says the author, and quotes from the leaders of the plain language for lawyers movement. From her "Funeral for Legalese" through her "Editing Checklist", Carol Ann Wilson convinces her readers that lawyers should rid their writing of legalese and that lawyers' assistants can help. "The LA who can draft pleadings is valuable to the lawyer and to the legal profession". And those pleadings should be "concise, powerful, and communicative".