This eminently practical volume demystifies legal writing, outlines the causes and consequences of bad writing, and prescribes straightforward, easy-to-apply remedies that will make your writing readable. Complete with usage notes that address lawyers' most common errors, this well-organized book is both an invaluable tool for practicing lawyers and a sensible grounding for law students. This much-revised second edition contains a set of editing exercises (and a suggested revision key with explanations) to test your skill. This book is a definitive guide to becoming a better writer—and a better lawyer.
From a master teacher and writer, a fully revised and updated edition of the results-oriented approach to legal writing that is clear, that persuades—and that WINS. More than almost any profession, the law has a deserved reputation for opaque, jargon-clogged writing. Yet forceful writing is one of the most potent weapons of legal advocacy. In this new edition of Writing to Win, Steven D. Stark, a former lecturer on law at Harvard Law School, who has inspired thousands of aspiring and practicing lawyers, applies the universal principles of powerful, vigorous prose to the job of making a legal case—and winning it. Writing to Win focuses on the writing of lawyers, not judges, and includes dozens of examples of effective (and ineffective) real-life legal writing—as well as compelling models drawn from advertising, journalism, and fiction. It deals with the challenges lawyers face in writing, from organization to strengthening and editing prose; offers incisive ways of improving arguments; addresses litigation and technical writing in all its forms; and covers the writing attorneys must perform in their daily practice, from email memos to briefs and contracts. Each chapter opens with a succinct set of rules for easy reference. With new sections on client communication and drafting affidavits, as well as updated material throughout, Writing to Win is the most practical and efficacious legal-writing manual available.
In this critically acclaimed book, Tom Goldstein and Jethro K. Lieberman demystify legal writing, outline the causes and consequences of poor writing, and prescribe easy-to-apply remedies to improve it. Reflecting changes in law practice over the past decade, this revised edition includes new sections around communicating digitally, getting to the point, and writing persuasively. It also provides an editing checklist, editing exercises with a suggested revision key, usage notes that address common errors, and reference works to further aid your writing. This straightforward guide is an invaluable tool for practicing lawyers and law students.
This first-of-its-kind legal guide showcases how to use the latest Web-based and software technologies, such as Web 2.0, Google tools, Microsoft Office, and Acrobat, to work collaboratively and more efficiently on projects with colleagues, clients, co-counsel and even opposing counsel. The book provides a wealth of information useful to lawyers who are just beginning to try collaboration tools, as well as tips and techniques for those lawyers with intermediate and advanced collaboration experience.
A comprehensive guide to legal style and usage, with practical advice on how to write clear, jargon-free legal prose. Includes style tips as well as definitions.
This concise, readily accessible text focuses the first-year law student on learning the basic principles of legal writing and analysis. Starting with a straightforward introduction to law and legal method and moving on To The basics of legal writing, The text then explores the specifics of writing memos and briefs. A classic in the field, A Practical Guide to Legal Writing and Legal Method, Third Edition, has been redesigned and updated to appeal to a new generation of law students. Among the features that make this carefully crafted text a success: flexibility -- the essential skills of legal reasoning and analysis are presented in a straightforward manner that allows each teacher¿and student¿to use the material in his or her own way integration -- students are taught legal analysis in tandem with legal writing, concentrating on the basic principles of legal method and how to apply those principles in legal writing accessibility -- legal reasoning and writing is presented in a simple and understandable manner, through the use of a series of accessible and simple guidelines; rigor -- focused exercises allow students to practice the guidelines presented in the text practicality -- extensive appendices with examples of office memos, trial briefs, and appellate briefs allow students to see how the lessons in the text are used to create the documents that they will write as lawyers Updated and redesigned, The Third Edition offers: new material on legal rules, synthesis, and organization of a legal discussion or argument new and updated examples throughout new user-friendly design and layout for enhanced accessibility an improved Teacher¿s Manual, significantly expanded to include additional exercises, teaching suggestions, and advice for new teachers
