How To Remove “The Fluff” In Legal Writing.

25 Sunday May 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Legalese, Motions

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Brief Writing, Judge Lynn N. Hughes, Legal Writing, Legalese, Michigan Bar Journal, Plain Language

A Standard Motion Revised, by Judge Lynn N. Hughes, Plain Language, Michigan Bar Journal (May 2014)

http://www.michbar.org/journal/pdf/pdf4article2367.pdf

Judge Hughes eliminates unnecessary words, what he calls “the fluff.” In a simple, direct example, Judge Hughes clearly marks which words are meaningless, useless fillers.

You see this language used every day by lawyers and legal professionals. It is common as dirt. Some writers insist that archaic legalese is “required,” although there is no court rule, case law, or statute to support that opinion. It is not a “legal term of art.”

The point of legal writing is to persuade the reader – the court. Why do we add “the fluff”? Beats me. -CCE

Garner’s Interview With Appellate Judges On Oral Argument and Brief Writing.

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Appellate Judges, Appellate Law, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Court Rules, Courts, Federal District Court Rules, Federal Judges, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Statement of Facts, Trial Tips and Techniques

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Brief Writing, Bryan Garner, Chief Judge Sandra Lynch, Judge Frank Easterbrook, Judge Pierre Leval, Judge Stephen Reinhardt, Jurisdiction, Legal Writing, Legal Writing Prof Blog, Oral Argument, Scribes Journal of Legal Writing

Scribes Journal Presents Interviews With Judges, By Legal Writing Prof, Legal Writing Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/najqatd

In the latest issue of the Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, Bryan Garner continues his series Scribes 5-14of interviews with judges. This time he talks with five United States Court of Appeals judges to collect some inside information about brief writing and oral argument. Here are some of the judges’ pithy quotes:

Judge (and former Chief Judge) Frank Easterbrook of the Seventh Circuit said a lawyer should know why the court has jurisdiction. He imagines having a button he could press to send a lawyer out to the street if the lawyer can’t explain the basis for appellate jurisdiction. ‘Because if we don’t have jurisdiction, why are we here?’

Judge Pierre Leval of the Second Circuit said the first thing he looks at in a brief is the argument headings ‘to get a sense of what’s involved.’ Then he can read the facts in context.

Chief Judge Sandra Lynch of the First Circuit said many lawyers look ‘frozen’ when a judge asks a question. But instead, they should think, ‘This is a great way that I can hit a few more balls out of the park; I can help my case.’

Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit likes briefs written in ‘simple, clear sentences.’ And he likes ‘a story that flows so you can tell what it’s about and why . . . something I can follow easily.’ . . .

Mediation and Settlement Presentation and Strategies.

02 Friday May 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Mediation

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Brief Writing, Cogent Legal Blog, Derek Ryan, Mediation, Mediators, Settlement

The Best Strategies to Present Your Case In Mediation, by Derek Ryan, Cogent Legal Blog

http://bit.ly/R9l7zU

Over the last 10 years, there’s been a significant shift in the way mediations are conducted. When I first started in the field, mediation briefs would come in via fax the night before the mediation. The mediator would begin the case with a joint conference where each side would make an opening statement, similar to trial, and after these openings the mediator would often have to spend the rest of the afternoon defusing the tension created by a joint conference.

There are two important aspects of developing presentations for mediation: (1) Communicate with the mediator before the mediation; and (2) develop a presentation that will inform but not inflame the opposing party. Remember that mediation is voluntary, and the goal is not to make the other side walk out. The goal is to get the case settled in the best way for your client.

In this blog post, I’ll cover several strategies to best present your case at mediation, including dos and don’ts for using graphics and technology to enhance your results. . . .

Appellate Judges Give Advice On Winning An Appeal.

06 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Appellate Judges, Appellate Law, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Citations, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Texas Supreme Court

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Appellate Briefs, Appellate Judges, Appellate Law, Chad M. Ruback, Dallas Bar Association Judiciary Committee, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Texas, Texas Supreme Court

Appellate Judges Tell Dallas Lawyers How to Handle an Appeal, By Chad M. Ruback, Appellate Lawyer

http://tinyurl.com/ousooh9

The Dallas Bar Association Judiciary Committee recently hosted a panel discussion with three prominent appellate judges. Catharina Haynes is the only federal appellate judge in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. After years of sitting as a Dallas state trial court judge, she was appointed to sit on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Debra Lehrmann is the only Texas Supreme Court justice from Fort Worth. Along with Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, she is one of only two Texas Supreme Court justices who began judicial service in North Texas. After a distinguished career in a large Dallas law firm, Elizabeth Lang-Miers serves as a justice on the Fifth District Court of Appeals, which reviews the cases from Texas state trial courts in Dallas County and five other counties.

The three panelists offered a number of helpful tips for lawyers practicing before appellate courts. . . .

A Recommendation for Legal Writing Experts.

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in ALWD, Brief Writing, Citations, Footnotes, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Parentheses, Spell Checking, The Bluebook

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Advanced Legal Writing & Editing, Bryan Garner, Legal Writing, Making Your Case, Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer, The ALWD Citation Manual, The Bluebook, The Redbook

The Redbook (3d ed.), by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer blog

http://tinyurl.com/nlqx3zy

If Raymond Ward says it, you can take it to the bank. I have followed his legal writing blog for years. Look for sound advice on superb legal writing. -CCE

Today I attended a triple-feature CLE by Bryan Garner: Advanced Legal Writing & Editing, The Redbook, and Making Your Case. To see whether Bryan’s spring tour will visit your city, click here to see the schedule. What I want to talk about this evening is what I learned in the Redbook portion of the seminar.

For years, I have had the first edition of the Redbook on my office bookshelf. For those unfamiliar with this book, it’s a style manual for legal writers. If you have a question about the right word, right punctuation, or right way to do something in legal writing, this book endeavors to answer your question. I’ve found it a useful reference for answering questions that arisen when writing a brief or editing another’s brief.

First, this preface: I am not one who immediately buys the next edition of whatever if the current edition remains serviceable. I use so-called outdated versions of the Bluebook and ALWD Citation Manual, because they still answer any question I have ever had about how to cite something. So since the first edition of the Redbook has served me well, I did not rush out to buy the second or third editions.

Having said that, here is my point: if you don’t have the third edition, get it. . . .

Key Elements of Great Legal Writing.

21 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Appellate Judges, Brief Writing, Federal Judges, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing

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Grammar, Judges, Legal Opinions, Legal Writing, Punctuation, Raymond Ward, Ross Guberman, Ross Guberman Blog

The Seven Writing Strategies of Highly Effective Trial Judges, by Ross Guberman Blog (with hat tip to Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer blog!)

http://tinyurl.com/ov446wn

This post hits on all of the key elements of great, not just good, legal writing. It is rarely explained better than this. Pay attention . . . . -CCE

Asked to name the world’s best opinion writers, traditionalists might rattle off Lord Denning, Learned Hand, or Oliver Wendell Holmes. Modernists often prefer Antonin Scalia or Richard Posner. And the trendy might cite new kids on the block like Lord Sumption or Elena Kagan.

Those august names all deserve heaps of praise. But the fame that these judges enjoy raises questions of its own: Can you write a “great” opinion if you’re a judge who’s not a household name, or even especially influential? And can you write a “great” opinion in a case that’s not a high-profile constitutional crisis, but just another run-of-the-mill dispute in an overflowing docket?

I say “yes” on both counts. No matter how routine a case, and no matter how little time you have, you can write a great opinion. It may not be “great” for the ages, but it can offer readers a clear, accessible, and easy-to-follow analysis of your reasoning, with even a bit of flair or personality for good measure. . . .

Litigator’s Self-Assessment Legal Writing Test.

24 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Legal Writing, Legalese, Litigation, Trial Tips and Techniques

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Above the Law (blog), Comes Now, Hereinafter, Litigator's Self-Assessment Test, Mark Herrmann, Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer blog, Thereof

Are You A Crappy Litigator? A Self-Assessment Test! by Mark Herrmann, Above The Law Blog (with hat tip to Raymond Ward at the (new) legal writer blog!)

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/are-you-a-crappy-litigator-a-self-assessment-test/

Not exactly the words I would choose to make the point, but I agree that the emphasis on short, clear sentences and paragraphs is more persuasive. -CCE

It’s so hard to judge yourself.

Deep in your soul you know that people who criticize you are idiots, and people who praise you are wise and sagacious.

How can you possibly tell if you’re any good at what you do?

I have the answer for you! I’ve created a litigators’ self-assessment test! Now you’ll know if you’re any good!

Here’s how it works: Take out the last brief you filed.

Do it. Now. You won’t learn anything if you don’t follow the rules. . . .

What’s The Point of An Appellant’s Reply Brief?

24 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Appellate Judges, Appellate Law, Brief Writing, Judges, Legal Argument, Legal Writing

≈ 1 Comment

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Appeal, Appellate Briefs, Appellate court, Appellate Law, Brief Writing, Legal Argument, Reply Brief

Yes, Filing an Appellant’s Reply Brief Really is Necessary, by Mike Skotnicki, Briefly Writing Blog

http://brieflywriting.com/2014/02/03/yes-filing-an-appellants-reply-brief-really-is-necessary/

In both my prior practice of appellate law in a fairly large firm and now in my work as a freelance appellate attorney, I’ve been asked by lawyers I was working with whether it was really necessary to file an Appellant’s Reply Brief. My short answer is, ‘Only if you want to win.’

Former Appellate Law Clerk Emphasizes Brief Writing Skills.

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Alabama Supreme Court, Appellate Judges, Appellate Law, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Statement of Facts

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Alabama Supreme Court, Appellate Judges, Brief Writing, Briefly Writing Blog, Chief Justice Sonny Hornsby, Justice Terry Butts, Legal Writing, Mike Skotnicki

The Most Important Thing I Learned on the Inside of the Alabama Supreme Court, by Mike Skotnicki, Briefly Writing Blog

http://tinyurl.com/mhq8a3m

An excellent post well worth reading. This short excerpt reminds us why quality legal writing is so critical in appellate advocacy. -CCE

[T]o win an appellate matter you must make your brief come alive, hold the reader’s attention, influence the reader to view your client favorably, and help guide the court to the result you want. With the paucity of oral argument, the appellate brief is very likely your only opportunity to present to the court the passion you hold for your client’s cause and that passion, though controlled, should be palpable. Your brief must be more like a compelling novel, telling a story of conflict, than the dry and lifeless tome that is most often submitted on appeal. If your brief is the one that the appellate judge or staff member goes back to again and again in preference to that of the opposing party as the matter is being considered, the chances of your client winning will climb immeasurably. Sometimes having the “best” case or fact in your favor is enough for your client to win, but most appeals simply aren’t that easy. . . .

Good Advice On How to Avoid Embarrassing Mistakes In An Appeal.

16 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Appellate Law, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Case Law, Citations, Citations to the Record, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Mandatory Law, Primary Law, Proofreading, Research, Statement of Facts, Texas Supreme Court

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Appellate Briefs, Appellate Law, Appellate Lawyer, Chad M. Ruback, Citations, Citations to the Record, Hyperbole, Justice Debra Lehrmann, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Statement of Facts, Texas Supreme Court

Common Mistakes Seen in Appellate Petitions and Briefs, by Chad M. Ruback, Appellate Lawyer

http://news.appeal.pro/appeals-to-texas-supreme-court/appellate-petitions-and-briefs/

Mr. Ruback served as a briefing attorney to the Fort Worth Court of Appeals. Here he shares the common mistakes that are normally seen in appellate writing. Because an appellate court never questions witnesses or hears evidence, the written documents submitted by the parties are all it has upon which to base its ruling. Sloppy and lengthy garbled arguments simply will not do. Mr. Ruback’s comments are worth noting.

I would like to add to Mr. Ruback’s list – neglecting to verify the accuracy of the appellate record while it remains in the jurisdiction of the trial court. It is a simple exercise to compare the record compiled by the trial court clerk using the Designation of Record and Counter-Designation of Record to make sure that the record is accurate.

This may seem a waste of time until the appellate record includes a deposition that was never admitted into evidence or a crucial piece of evidence is overlooked by the court clerk who assembled record for the appeal. No one is perfect; mistakes can happen.

Too often, counsel ignore this simple step. Personally, I would make sure the person you send to check the record put the trial exhibits together and/or was part of the trial team. Or to put it another way – how do you explain to a client that you couldl have avoided the appeal’s fatal flaw if you had checked the record before it was sent up on appeal? -CCE

A Judge’s Biting Response to Bad Briefs.

08 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing

≈ 1 Comment

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Bradshaw v. Unity Marine Corps, Briefs, Good Legal Writing, Judge Samuel B. Kent, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Tiffany Johnson

The Bench Strikes Back, by Tiffany Johnson, Good Legal Writing

http://goodlegalwriting.com/2013/01/10/the-bench-strikes-back/

A judge does not like the quality of writing and analysis in attorneys’ briefs and tells them so. It isn’t pretty. -CCE

Forget Times New Roman! Courts Prefer More Readable, Professional Fonts.

08 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Fonts, Judges, Legal Writing

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Appellate Briefs, Fonts, Jason Steed, Legal Solutions Blog, Legal Writing, Times New Roman

Legal Writing: Font Matters, by Jason Steed, Legal Solutions Blog

http://tinyurl.com/n5zv6z7

I thought by now it was becoming common knowledge that lawyers should avoid using Times New Roman as the font for their legal documents. But I recently had a conversation with an experienced lawyer about font choices in appellate briefs, and this experienced lawyer was trying to tell me that font doesn’t matter. “Just leave it on Times New Roman,” the experienced lawyer said. “That’s what judges are used to; it’s what they expect. There’s no reason to shake it up.” And maybe this is true. Maybe judges, after seeing thousands of court filings, simply get “used to” and “expect” these briefs to look a certain way.

But that doesn’t mean that that’s how judges want things to be. In fact, there’s evidence to the contrary. . . .

The Legal Writing Debate on Footnotes Continues.

08 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Appellate Law, Brief Writing, Citations, Court Rules, Footnotes, Legal Writing

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ABA Journal, Brief Writing, Bryan Garner, Citations, Footnotes, Jason Steed, Ledet v. Seasafe, Legal Writing, Louisiana Appellate Court, New York Times, Raymond Ward, Rich Phillips, the (new) legal writer

The Never Ending Debate Over Citational Footnotes, by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer

http://tinyurl.com/lh3t2co

Mr. Ward gives us a brief overview in these two paragraphs. In the remainder of his post, Mr. Ward expands on his variations for citations in footnotes and the preferences of Fifth Circuit judges I mean no disrespect to Mr. Garner, but if Mr. Ward gives advice on legal writing, I pay attention. -CCE

Who would have thought that, for over 13 years now, the most controversial subject among litigation-oriented legal writers would be the location of legal citations in footnotes versus in text? Back in the spring of 2001, a judge in an intermediate Louisiana appellate court, in writing the majority’s opinion in a case, put her legal citations in footnotes. This drew a concurring opinion from the chief judge (withdrawn before final publication), agreeing with the result but objecting to the use of footnotes for citations. So the author wrote her own concurring opinion defending her use of footnotes. The case is Ledet v. Seasafe, Inc., 783 So. 2d 611 (La. App. 3 Cir. 2001). The controversy stirred up by Ledet caught the attention of the New York Times. Here is my own little casenote on Ledet.

Fast-forward 13 years. Bryan Garner writes an article for the ABA Journal recommending the use of footnotes for legal citations—a position he’s held since I took my first Garner seminar in 1998. His fellow Texans Rich Phillips and Jason Steed write blog posts begging to differ. Different decade, pretty much the same debate.

Use Footnotes for Legal Citations?

07 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Citations, Footnotes, Legal Writing

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ABA Journal, Bryan Garner, Citations, Footnotes, Legal Writing, Legal Writing Prof, Legal Writing Prof Blog

Garner Argues For Footnotes In Judicial Opinions, by Legal Writing Prof, Legal Writing Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/jwd8rpg

Count me as one who disagrees with putting citations in footnotes. Mr. Garner has advocated this position for some time, and he has won some converts.

When I am reading a brief or opinion, I want to look at the citation at the time I am reading the argument. The strength of the authority will influence how persuaded I will be by the argument. Because persuading the reader is basically what legal writing is all about, I do not want my reader to lose focus or be distracted in any way. For me, having to move my eyes down to a footnote to find the authority used for an argument would tedious and irritating. I am afraid that I will never agree with Mr. Garner on this point. -CCE

In his February ABA Journal column, Bryan Garner continues his long-running campaign for footnotes in judicial opinions. He argues that citations in the text make legal writing cumbersome. And he points out that while they might have been practical in the days of the typewriter, now “we can easily sweep those interruptions out of the way.”

Garner admits that not everyone agrees with him; so far, only a minority of judges has adopted his proposal. . . .

Legal Writing Tips From a Former Law Clerk.

01 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in ALWD, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Citations, Headnotes, IRAC, Legal Writing, The Bluebook

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Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Charleston School of Law, Citations, Grammar, Headnotes, Judicial Clerk, Kentucky Bench and Bar Association Magazine, Law Clerk, Legal Writing, Professor Brock Collins, Punctuation, Quotations

Writing Trial Memoranda: A Law Clerk’s Perspective, by Brock Collins, Kentucky Bench and Bar Association Magazine (January 2014) (with hat tip to Legal Writing Prof Blog)

http://kentuckybenchandbar.epubxp.com/t/30647

On page 28 of the Kentucky Bench and Bar Association Magazine, Brock Collins, a Professor at Charleston School of Law, describes what he learned about legal writing as a former judicial clerk. Professor Brock observes that “[t]he quality of an attorney’s credibility and reputation is based in large part on the quality and thoroughness of her legal writing.” In this excellent article, Professor Brock shares his legal writing tips. -CCE

Do You Know Whether Your Judge Uses an iPad or Tablet? Find Out Before You Submit Your Next Brief.

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Apple, Brief Writing, Footnotes, iPad, Judges, Legal Technology, Legal Writing, Trial Tips and Techniques

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Columbia Business Law Review, Daniel Sockwell, Eugene Volokh, iPad, Matthew Butterick, Typography for Lawyers

Writing a Brief for the iPad Judge, by Daniel Sockwell, Columbia Business Law Review

http://cblr.columbia.edu/archives/12940

‘Know your audience’ is a fundamental rule of skillful writing. For lawyers writing briefs in the 21st century, a key part of knowing your judicial audience is knowing what device will display your brief. While some judges print briefs and read the hard copy, a quiet revolution is occurring: more and more judges are reading briefs primarily on iPads or other tablets. According to experts on legal writing, this change in reading should trigger a similarly significant change in writing.

Legal Writers, This Blog Is For You.

22 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in ALWD, Brief Writing, Citations, Footnotes, Legal Writing, Legislative History, Quotations, The Bluebook

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Citing Legally Blog, by Peter W. Martin, Jane M.G. Foster Professor of Law Emeritus, Cornell

http://citeblog.access-to-law.com/

If you have any interest in the fine points of legal citation and legal writing, this is the blog for you. Citation master, Peter Martin, who holds an endowed chair named for the late Jane M.G. Foster Professor of Law Emeritus at Cornell, has created a forum to discuss and elaborate on citations as they are used by counsel and the court.

This is a “must bookmark” for anyone interested in legal writing, cite-checking, or how to cite properly. Please click on “About – Scope and Purpose” to read more about the authors’ intent for this blog. -CCE

PDF Hyperlinks & E-Briefs Requirement by Some Courts.

18 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Citations, E-Briefs, E-Briefs, Legal Writing, PDF Hyperlinks, Quotations, Tennessee Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court

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California, Connecticut, E-Briefs, Ernie Svenson, Federal Court, Hon. David Nuffer, Hyperlinking, Link Rot, New Hampshire, PDF for Lawyers, PDF Hyperlinks, Texas Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court

PDF Hyperlinks & E-Briefs: Overview Of How Lawyers Can Use And Create Them, By Ernie Svenson, PDF for Lawyers

http://pdfforlawyers.com/pdf-hyperlinks-ebriefs/

To emphasize the point, here is a brief compilation of Courts that use or require .pdf hyperlinks. Please note that this is not a complete list. If you know of other courts that require or allow .pdf hyperlinks in briefs, please forward that information to me, and I will post it. As a general caveat, always check your Court’s rules when preparing any brief to be filed with the Court, and follow them concisely.

Also, please note that the U.S. Supreme Court uses hyperlinks to citations in its opinions. But, it has encountered something called “link rot,” which causes hyperlinks to deteriorate with time. That issue has been discussed in here at: https://researchingparalegal.com/2013/10/22/a-plan-to-stop-link-rot-forever-perma-cc/. You can easily subscribe to Perma.cc. The only problem I have encountered that it is still in beta stage and is not 100% reliable. If you encounter problems, the people who do the trouble-shooting respond quickly.-CCE

Electric Filing Order, Supreme Court of Texas: http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/ebriefs/ebriefs.asp

New Hampshire Judicial Branch: http://www.courts.state.nh.us/supreme/ebriefs/

Electronic Briefs in Trial and Appellate Courts, Jurist: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/courttech3.htm

California Courts – Electronic Filing/Submissions: http://www.courts.ca.gov/8872.htm

State of Connecticut Judicial Branch – E-Citation Procedures and Technical Standards: https://eservices.jud.ct.gov/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx

Deleting Legalese and Using Clear Language in Legal Writing.

22 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Court Orders, Legal Writing, Legalese

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Carol Bast, Court Order, Florida Bar Association, Judge Steven D. Merryday, Legal Writing, Legalese, Plain English, Plain Language, State Bar of Michigan

Lawyers Should Use Plain Language, by Carol M. Bast (published in October 1995 Florida Bar Journal)

http://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/plainenglish/PDFs/85_oct.pdf

I have often heard the excuses for using legalese. Clients expect it. It sounds better and well, just, more “legal.” Would it surprise you to know that there is no statute, case law, court rule, or other legal authority that requires legalese? There simply isn’t.

I also have heard the excuse that legalese impresses the court. It sounds more official. Did your brief win because it sounds more pompous or because your argument was more clearly explained and understood by the court? To illustrate that point, please read this Court Order posted by Lowering the Bar Blog:

http://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2012/11/Merryday-Order.pdf

If you need further proof of dropping legalese in legal writing, see this compilation of outstanding articles by members of the Plain English Subcommittee of the State Bar of Michigan. It is a valuable motherload of articles of clear writing, and well worth studying by anyone who aspires to write well. -CCE

http://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/plainenglish/

Increase Credibility With The Court By Writing Accurate Facts And Law.

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Citations, Discovery, Evidence, Legal Writing, Motions

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(Lady) Legal Writer, Brief Writing, Evidence, Legal Writing, Megan E. Boyd

Commandment #7–Don’t “Fudge” the Facts or the Law, by Megan E. Boyd, (Lady) Legal Writer

http://tinyurl.com/n6qmvqe

Ms. Boyd excels at explaining how to present facts and applicable law to your client’s best advantage. She reminds us to use citations to depositions, discovery responses, and other resources to emphasize credibility, a detail sometimes overlooked. Definitely worth a read. – CCE

The Art of Choosing the Right Word to Persuade the Court.

07 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Legal Writing

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Brief Right, Brief Writing, Kelly Griffis, Legal Writing

White Mountain Apache Tribe I, by Kelly Griffis, Brief Right!

http://briefright.com/white-mountain-apache-tribe-i/

If you have not already taken a look at this Blog, it is all about editing and drafting excellent briefs. In this post, Ms. Griffis looks at a particular case and shows how the government chose specific words to undermine the other side’s position and build on its own case. -CCE

How to Convince the Court that Your Client Deserves to Win.

17 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Legal Writing

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Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Kenneth F. Oettle, Legal Writing, New Jersey Law Journal, Sills Cummis & Gross

Choose an Approach that Will Appeal to the Court’s Conscience, by Kenneth F. Oettle, at Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.

This article, found at Sills Cummis & Gross, P.C. website, was originally published in the New Jersey Law Journal. It was later published in the Michigan Bar Journal (May 2008), and again in Ken Oettle’s book, “Making Your Point,” by ALM.

http://www.sillscummis.com/Repository/Files/2008_May_Oettle.pdf

An except from this article:

To shape an argument, particularly in head-to-head litigation under the common law, where the focus is more personal than institutional, look for a fact or a fact scenario that purports to elevate the moral standing of your client over that of the other side, giving your client the white hat, the high ground.

Show the adverse party to have engaged in morally challenged behavior, such as violence, promise-breaking, deception, delay, self-indulgence, laziness, or lack of care. If the moral offense goes to (is within the confines of) the issue in the case (and sometimes even if it is not—but be careful there), you will give yourself a good chance to persuade the court that your client deserves to win and the other side deserves to lose.

Strong Openings Make A Difference

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Brief Writing, Legal Writing

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Brief Writing, Kenneth F. Oettle, Legal Writing, New Jersey Law Journal, P.C., Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.

Open A Brief With Substance, Not Bluster — Mere Posturing Is Ineffective, by Kenneth F. Oettle, at Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. (Please note correct firm name. CCE)

This article was later published in the New Jersey Law Journal, and again published in Ken Oettle’s “Making Your Point,” (an excellent book on legal writing that should be on everyone’s reference desk, in my humble opinion) published by ALM. The link is to the Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. website:

http://bit.ly/19EOC24