Category Archives: Legal Writing

The Art of Well Written Judicial Opinions.

17 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by in Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Legalese, Plain Language, Readability

≈ Comments Off on The Art of Well Written Judicial Opinions.

Tags

, , , , , ,

The Seven Writing Strategies of Highly Effective Trial Judges, by Ross Guberman, Legal Writing Pro Blog

http://legalwritingpro.com/blog/the-seven-writing-strategies-of-highly-effective-trial-judges/

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. . . .

Continue reading →

Too Many Acronyms = Alphabet Soup.

16 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by in Abbreviations, Acronyms, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Court Rules, Courts, Initialisms, Legal Writing, Local Rules, Spell Checking

≈ Comments Off on Too Many Acronyms = Alphabet Soup.

Tags

, , , , , ,

Check Your Briefs For Acronym Overuse, DC Circuit Clerk Tells Lawyers In Campaign Finance Case, by Debra Cassen Weiss, ABA Journal

http://tinyurl.com/mff4sqx

Acronyms continue to bedevil the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Parties before the court are advised in circuit rules to avoid little-known acronyms; lawyers who didn’t heed the advice were called out in a 2012 opinion. Now the clerk’s office is doing its part to police the briefs. . . .

Continue reading →

Legal Writing Tips from “Dear Scrivener.”

29 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Editing, Legal Writing, Plain Language, Readability

≈ Comments Off on Legal Writing Tips from “Dear Scrivener.”

Tags

, , , ,

A Potpourri Of Tips About Legal Writing, by Judith D. Fischer, Legal Writing Prof Blog

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2015/03/a-potpourri-of-tips-about-legal-writing.html

For a potpourri of tips about legal writing, see Dear Scrivener by Scott Moise in the March 2015 South Carolina Lawyer. . . .

Continue reading →

Avoid These Mistakes When Writing Your Brief’s Statement of The Facts.

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Brief Writing, Legal Writing, Statement of Facts

≈ Comments Off on Avoid These Mistakes When Writing Your Brief’s Statement of The Facts.

Tags

, , ,

Your Statement of Facts Matter, by Kirby Griffis, Brief Right!

http://briefright.com/facts-matter/

When lawyers get started writing a brief, they often seem to get themselves warmed up by explaining to the court what the brief is about. Or so they think. These early sections, which might be called ‘Procedural Background,’ ‘Background of the Motion,’ or something related, are a good place to look for this common briefing error.

It starts with a blitz of irrelevant dates, which may be further muddied by a seeming lack of certainty about those same dates. Here’s an example: ‘Plaintiff filed her Complaint on or about June 5, 2011.’ Why would you ever say this to the court? . . . .

Plain English Jury Instructions Are Like A Breath of Fresh Air After A Long Trial.

24 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Jury Instructions, Jury Instructions, Jury Persuasion, Legal Writing, Legalese, Plain Language, Readability, Trial Tips and Techniques

≈ Comments Off on Plain English Jury Instructions Are Like A Breath of Fresh Air After A Long Trial.

Tags

, , , ,

Embrace Plain English Jury Instructions, by Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm, Persuasive Litigator

http://www.persuasivelitigator.com/2015/03/embrace-plain-english-instructions-and-plain-english-persuasion.html

I often play the role of the ‘judge’ during a mock trial. In that capacity, I have the pleasure of reading the legal instructions to the mock jurors just before they deliberate. While I’m droning on about ‘preponderance,’ and ‘proximate cause,’ and making the plaintiff ‘whole,’ I am often met with quizzical looks as the jurors grapple with the language. Some have even made a vain attempt to raise their hands to ask a question. I sometimes wish I could explain, ‘Look, my point is not for you to understand this… it is just to be realistic.’ And, too often, what is realistic is for the instructions to be dense at best and incomprehensible at worst. ’Jury instructions are written by lawyers,’ the American Judicature Society points out, ‘and are often filled with legal language whose meaning is not apparent to those without legal training.’ . . .

Continue reading →

Legislative Drafting And Plain English – They Are Not Mutually Exclusive.

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Editing, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Legalese, Plain Language, Punctuation, Readability

≈ Comments Off on Legislative Drafting And Plain English – They Are Not Mutually Exclusive.

Tags

, , , ,

A Classic Example Of Bad Writing, by Judge Mark P. Painter, Judging Strictly By Merit

http://www.judgepainter.org/legalwriter55

In my last column I gave kudos to the U.S. Supreme Court and its rules committee for rewriting the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in plain language. But the fight goes on. Legislative drafting continues to be particularly egregious. . . .

Continue reading →

Ross Guberman’s Eight Comma Commandments.

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Editing, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Punctuation

≈ Comments Off on Ross Guberman’s Eight Comma Commandments.

Tags

, , , ,

Avoid the Most Common Comma Crimes Committed by Counsel: Eight Commandments, by Ross Guberman, Legal Writing Pro

http://www.legalwritingpro.com/articles/H76-comma-crimes.php

From the loftiest law firms to the grandest judicial chambers, I see the same comma errors time and time again. In the name of consistency, and perhaps even sanity, consider committing to these Eight Comma Commandments. . . .

Continue reading →

Drafting The Order When You Win Your Motion? Beware Judicial Plagiarism!

19 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in Civil Procedure, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Motions

≈ Comments Off on Drafting The Order When You Win Your Motion? Beware Judicial Plagiarism!

Tags

, , , , ,

Judicial Plagiarism, by Tiffany Johnson, Esq., Good Legal Writing Blog

http://goodlegalwriting.com/2015/03/08/judicial-plagiarism/#more-497

Have you ever argued a motion and had the court rule directly from the bench awarding you your requested relief? Didn’t you feel like the cool kid that day? Chest puffed out a little bit while you tried to restrain yourself out of respect for opposing counsel? And after winning your motion, did the court dump the task of drafting the order on you? Of course it did. No court has time to actually draft orders, right? That’s the least you could do after the court was gracious enough to rule in your favor. And even though it was another tick to your to-do list, you secretly welcomed that chore, because it meant you got to tweak the wording of the order precisely to your client’s advantage. Am I off here? No. You know this drill.

Well, hold your horses, cowboy. A recent case from Tennessee illustrates the possible dangers that may lie ahead up in them there hills. . . .

Continue reading →

Defendant in Motor Vehicle Accident Files Motion In Limine to Exclude BAC Evidence – Nice Try.

18 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Admissibility, Evidence, Expert Witness Report, Expert Witnesses, Forensic Evidence, Litigation, Motion in Limine, Motions in Limine, Motor Vehicle

≈ Comments Off on Defendant in Motor Vehicle Accident Files Motion In Limine to Exclude BAC Evidence – Nice Try.

Tags

, , , , ,

Admissibility of BAC Evidence Requires Proof of Intoxication, by Daniel E. Cummins, TortTalk Blog

http://www.torttalk.com/2015/03/admissibility-of-bac-evidence-requires.html

(Please contact Daniel Cummins at dancummins@comcast.net if you wish to review a copy of this opinion.)

In his recent February 9, 2015 Opinion in the case of Ritter v. Van Campen Motors, Inc., No. 12-00,379 (C.P. Lycoming Co. Feb. 9, 2015 Anderson, J.), Judge Dudley M. Anderson addressed Motions in Limine pertaining to DUI evidence filed by a Defendant in a motor vehicle accident case.

According to the Opinion, this matter involved a motor vehicle accident during which each party claimed that the other driver crossed the centerline resulting in the fatal accident. Accident reconstruction experts offered by each party came to opposite conclusions.

The Defendant filed a Motion In Limine to preclude evidence that the Defendant driver had a BAC of .257 at the time of the accident as confirmed by an autopsy report, testimony that the Defendant had been drinking prior to driving that day, and evidence that there was beer in the Defendant’s vehicle at the time of the accident. The Defendant contended that the BAC evidence was inadmissible absent proof of intoxication. . . .

Continue reading →

Are Shorter Appellate Briefs Better? Appellate Judges Seem To Think So.

15 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Appellate Law, Appellate Writing, Brief Writing, Editing, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Plain Language, Proofreading, Readability

≈ Comments Off on Are Shorter Appellate Briefs Better? Appellate Judges Seem To Think So.

Tags

, , , , , ,

Federal Appellate Judges Want To Shorten The Length of Briefs, Lawyers Object, by Professor James B. Levy, Legal Skills Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/m3s85z2

If an appeal is extremely complex, would a reduction in the size of a brief compromise the ability of a party to win an appeal to a federal appellate court? Apparently, appellate judges do not think so.

Before making up your mind, please read Professor Sirico’s posts, also included by Professor Levy in his original post. It may not be a question of length, but experience. What do you think? -CCE

The Wall Street Journal Law Blog has posted this story about the reaction by many appellate attorneys to a proposal that would reduce the word count on federal appellate briefs under the federal rules of appellate practice from 14,000 to 12,500. (Interestingly, my co-blogger Professor Sirico reported last month on a new study (and here) that supports the lawyers’ objections to the proposed rule change insofar as the study found that longer briefs filed by appellants ‘strongly’ correlates with success on appeal. However, the authors of the study cautioned against inferring that it is word count, rather than the complexity of the underlying issues which may require more thorough explanations, that explains the correlation). . . .

10th Circuit Tips and Resources For New Attorneys and Infrequent Attorney Filers.

12 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in Appellate Writing, Brief Writing, U.S. Courts of Appeal

≈ Comments Off on 10th Circuit Tips and Resources For New Attorneys and Infrequent Attorney Filers.

Tags

, , , ,

Filing Your Appeal – For New and Infrequent Attorney Filers, The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/clerk/filing-your-appeal/atty

Introduction

If this is your first time in this court, welcome. If it has been a while since you filed a brief with us, welcome back. Practicing in a federal appeals court is different from practicing in a trial court, state or federal, and there are even notable differences from state appellate work. With this in mind, there are a number of resources available to assist you.

As an initial matter, if you intend to practice in this court, you can count on referring frequently to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, and especially our local Tenth Circuit Rules. Our Practitioner’s Guide is also a good source of information.

If you can’t find the answer to a question in the rules or if you have a special concern about an appeal, do not hesitate to call the clerk’s office at 303-844-3157. We have real people answering the phone and a well-trained staff who can assist you.

The following sections provide general information you may find useful. However, this information is no substitute for a careful review of the federal and our local rules. . . .

Continue reading →

Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! The 20th Edition of The Bluebook Will Be Out Soon!

08 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Citations, Legal Writing, The Bluebook

≈ Comments Off on Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! The 20th Edition of The Bluebook Will Be Out Soon!

Tags

, , ,

20th Edition of the Bluebook Expected by this Summer, by Mark E. Woicik, Legal Writing Prof Blog

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2015/03/20th-edition-of-the-bluebook.html

Be still my heart! -CCE

Professor Brian Sites of Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law shared the news that the 20th edition of The Bluebook ‘will be available in the late spring/early summer of 2015.’ Oh, goodie! Click here for more information.

A Valuable Cache of Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen.

08 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Brief Writing, Editing, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Readability, Style Manuals

≈ Comments Off on A Valuable Cache of Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen.

Tags

, , , ,

Excellent Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen, by Louis J. Sirico, Jr., Legal Skills Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/psygoox

There are many really superb experts in legal writing. Mr. Sirico is one of them. Mr. Sirico has provided us with a link to not one, but all of Mr. Gopen’s legal writing articles published in Litigation since 2011 to date. Do not lose this, and save under “must read”! -CCE

George Gopen has been writing columns on legal writing for “Litigation,” the magazine of the ABA Section on Litigation. You can access them here.

I cannot speak too highly of George’s work. Years ago, I attended one of his workshops and discovered a new way to think about writing. I have passed the lessons down to my students, and now, even years after they graduate, they tell me how greatly those lessons transformed their writing and contributed to their success.

We Have Proof! Clients Really Do Prefer Plain Language Over Legalese.

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Legal Writing, Legalese, Plain Language

≈ Comments Off on We Have Proof! Clients Really Do Prefer Plain Language Over Legalese.

Tags

, , , , , ,

Does Plain English Make a Difference to Clients?, by Louis J. Sirico, Jr., Legal Skills Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/mgf49tn

According to an empirical study by Christopher Trudeau, the answer is yes. I think his 2012 article deserves greater attention–The Public Speaks: An Empirical Study of Legal Communication, 14 The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing 121 (2012) (here).

In a carefully designed study, subjects compared passages written in plain English and similar passages that contained the failures that plain English attempts to eliminate. The study provides a good bit of valuable information. It also results in 10 practical pointers.

First, do not underestimate the importance of oral communication. Over half of all respondents preferred some type of oral communication to written communication.

Second, deliver written documents electronically even when you must send a hard copy.

Third, use clear, understandable written communication.

Fourth, do not assume that all readers will understand commonly used legal terms. Instead, define these terms if you must use them.

Fifth, avoid complicated terms and Latin words. They generally bothered or annoyed nearly seven out of ten clients.

Sixth, prefer the active voice. Respondents preferred it almost 70% of the time — and clients at a higher rate than non-clients.

Seventh, avoid multi-word prepositions like pursuant to and prior to and with regard to. They are among the worst aspects of legalese.

Eighth, remember that the more confusing the sentences become, the more likely that a reader will prefer plain language.

Ninth — and this needs to be proclaimed repeatedly, ceaselessly— the vast majority of clients and non-clients prefer plain language. For the choice-of-language questions, readers chose the plain-language version 80% of the time.

Finally, use plain language no matter what the reader’s educational level. Contrary to my original theory, as the level increased, so did the respondent’s preference for plain language.

It’s National Grammar Day!

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Editing, Legal Writing

≈ Comments Off on It’s National Grammar Day!

Tags

, , , ,

National Grammar Day, by Kristin Hare, Poynter.org

http://www.poynter.org/tag/national-grammar-day/

Turns out we have a lot of pet peeves about grammar.

Happy National Grammar Day! On National Grammar Day eve, we shared the pet peeves of a handful of journalists and asked people to share their own. We got a lot. Enjoy!

[View the story ‘’Don’t make me kill you’‘ on Storify]

If you’re ready for more National Grammar Day fun, Poynter’s News University has the Webinar ‘National Grammar Day 2015’ at 2 p.m. Eastern. Use the code 15PPGRAM50 for a discount. News U’s ‘Language Primer: Basics of Grammar, Punctuation and Word Use’ is also always popular. The American Copy Editors Society is having a grammar day #ACESchat today from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on Twitter.

Here are a few of the pet peeves we shared yesterday: . . . .

Continue reading →

Defendants Recover E-Discovery Costs And How They Did It.

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Discovery, Document Review, E-Discovery, Legal Writing, Motions, Requests for Production

≈ Comments Off on Defendants Recover E-Discovery Costs And How They Did It.

Tags

, , ,

Court Finds Defendants Are Entitled to Recover $55,649.98 In e-Discovery Costs, by K&L Gates

http://tinyurl.com/pdqnz3a

Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Center, Inc. v. Leslea, No. 11-cv-03417-CMA-MJW, 2015 WL 638198 (D. Colo. Feb. 13, 2015)

Plaintiffs brought a ‘Motion to Review Clerk’s Taxing of Costs Under F.R.C.P. 54(D)(1).’ Specifically, Plaintiffs sought review of the clerk’s determination “concerning the costs taxed amount of $55,649.98, which accounts for Defendants contracting with a private consulting company, Cyopsis, to retrieve and convert ESI into a retrievable format to produce information requested by Plaintiffs.” The court held that ‘[b]ecause Defendants’ costs related to the electronically stored information (‘ESI’) are expenses enumerated in 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4), and Plaintiffs were aware that Defendants would have to retain an outside consultant to retrieve and convert the ESI into a retrievable format, Plaintiffs’ Motion is denied.’ . . .

Continue reading →

Ken Adams Shares What It Takes To Be A Great Contract Writer.

02 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by in Boilerplate Forms, Boilerplate Forms, Contract Law, Editing, Legal Writing, Legalese, Readability, Style Manuals

≈ Comments Off on Ken Adams Shares What It Takes To Be A Great Contract Writer.

Tags

, , , ,

What It Takes to Be a Great Contract Drafter, by Ken Adams, Adams On Contract Drafting

http://www.adamsdrafting.com/what-it-takes-to-be-a-great-contract-drafter/

If you write or work with contracts, this is a “must read” post by Ken Adams. Drafting a good contract is a special type of legal writing. A good, solid contract is a work of art. Also, please don’t ignore the Comments at the end of the post. There’s more good information there as well. -CCE

Here’s what it takes to be a great contract drafter:

Know the deal mechanics. As a drafter, it’s your job to express the transaction in a way that advances your client’s interests most effectively. You can’t do that unless you’re aware of the full range of options for structuring the deal. I don’t mean to suggest that you yourself have to possess that information—it’s enough if you’re able to pick the brains of people with that information.

Know the law. With some transactions, there’s no need for the law to rear its head in the contract. In other transactions, it would be appropriate, or necessary, for the law to feature in the contract. I discuss that in this 2013 post. As drafter, it’s your job to figure out what role, if any, the law plays in your transaction. Again, it’s enough if you can get that information from others.

Follow a comprehensive style guide. You don’t follow a comprehensive set of guidelines for the building blocks of contract language? Sorry, you’re not a great drafter. You’re not even a good drafter. Instead, you’re parroting whatever contract language you copy, which is likely dysfunctional. You’re following conventional wisdom, which more often than not is bogus. Don’t throw at me your education, your reputation, your long list of publications, your compensation, your track record as a dealmaker. They’re all beside the point. Of course, the only set of guidelines out there is A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting, but don’t hold that against me. I’m not stopping anyone else from producing their own comprehensive set of guidelines. And following my guidelines isn’t rocket science. . . .

Continue reading →

No Question About It – Bad Legal Writing Squanders Your Money.

01 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Economics, Law Office Management, Legal Writing, Legalese, Management, Plain Language, Readability, Time Management

≈ Comments Off on No Question About It – Bad Legal Writing Squanders Your Money.

Tags

, , , , ,

Face It — Bad Legal Writing Wastes Money, by Matthew Salzwedel, The Lawyerist Blog

https://lawyerist.com/60599/face-it-bad-legal-writing-wastes-money/

A recent article on FindLaw.com called Five Ways Attorneys Waste Money claimed that attorneys can cut clients’ costs by avoiding needless motions, staffing cases leanly, focusing on the important issues, avoiding petty spats with the opposition, and being smart about when to settle.

But the article ignored the most important way attorneys can save money for their firms and clients: by learning how to write in plain English.

Most attorneys don’t believe that writing style matters. They might concede that writing in plain English can be aesthetically pleasing to the reader; but they also say that it’s not worth the time to learn how to do it because there’s no evidence that writing in plain English saves time or money.

But these attorneys ignore what legal-writing experts have taught — and what the empirical evidence has shown — for more than 50 years: that plain English saves time and money by increasing the ability of readers to understand and retain what they have read. . . .

Continue reading →

Using Legal Citations to Persuade the Reader.

01 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Citations, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, String Citations

≈ Comments Off on Using Legal Citations to Persuade the Reader.

Tags

, , , , ,

The Art of Persuasion Through Legal Citations, by Susan W. Fox and Wendy S. Loquasto, 84 Fla. B. J. 40 (2010).

http://www.floridabar.org/divcom/jn/jnjournal01.nsf/Author/A8B63DC72FCE7882852576F10068ECD6

Persuasive citation of legal authority is an essential part of legal writing. Proper citation involves knowing not only the basic form for citing cases, constitutions, statutes, rules, books, articles, and other legal authority,1 but also requires understanding the purposes and best practices for citing legal authority. The purpose of this article is to help you develop a more persuasive and effective citation style by discussing development of a citation plan, the hierarchy of authority, the role of courts and precedent; the use of pinpoint cites, parentheticals, and signals; and placement of citations.

The primary purposes of citation are support and attribution for the propositions advanced by the author. Proper citation further requires consideration of the source of the applicable law, whether the authority is binding or merely persuasive and the credibility attributable to the author or authority cited. In short, persuading a court to follow precedent, distinguish it, or overrule it — as the case requires to advance your client’s position — is in large part dependent upon credible citations and sound reasoning based upon the citations. . . .

Continue reading →

Formatting for Persuasive Legal Writing Makes A Difference.

28 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in Citations, Court Rules, Courts, Legal Technology, Legal Writing, Local Rules, Readability, Style Manuals

≈ Comments Off on Formatting for Persuasive Legal Writing Makes A Difference.

Tags

, , , ,

Paragraphs and Indentation Formatting for Persuasive Writing, by Collin Walke, Vol. 86 OBJ No. 5 (2014).

http://www.okbar.org/members/BarJournal/archive2015/FebArchive15/OBJ8605Walke.aspx

Contrary to that pesky little voice in your head at this very moment, formatting is not a boring topic and is absolutely critical when writing a legal brief. Aside from the technical rule requirements for formatting briefs, which will be discussed in greater detail below, formatting is essential for persuasion. One of the best legal writers I have ever had the privilege of working with has a paperweight on his desk that reads: ‘Good writing is clear thinking made visible.’ Without good formatting, quality content will be lost in the mire of facts, law and argument.

The point of this article is to outline what good formatting looks like. First, the brief must be written in accordance with the formatting rules of your particular court. A brief for the district court of Oklahoma County will look different from a brief for the Western District of Oklahoma. Second, the format of the brief must be laid out so that it assists the reader in understanding your position. Finally, your format should match the needs of the particular brief. . . .

[Emphasis added.] Continue reading →

What A Judge Needs To Give You What You Want.

27 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Brief Writing, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Motions, Plain Language, Readability, Statement of Facts, Summary of the Argument

≈ Comments Off on What A Judge Needs To Give You What You Want.

Tags

, ,

Effective Legal Writing: One Judge’s Perspective, by Retired Judge Wayne Alley, originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, Feb. 14, 2015– Vol. 86, No. 5.

http://www.okbar.org/members/BarJournal/archive2015/FebArchive15/OBJ8605Alley.aspx

This is one of the best articles I have read on how to write to win your case. Judge Alley tells you exactly what a judge wants to read in your brief. So put yourself in the judge’s shoes, and imagine that you’re reading yet another brief at the end of a long day at the end of an extremely long week.

Here you will find what a judge needs to give you what you want. -CCE

What does a judge want in writings (motions, briefs, applications, reports, proposed orders) filed in his or her cases? There is an easy answer; the judge wants an easy out. The judge wants a clear, simple, substantiated solution to the problem at hand — a solution with which he is comfortable. To this end, consider the following suggestions.

Tell the judge why. Except for uncontested applications, such as for extensions of time, both sides typically submit persuasive statutes, cases and secondary authorities in support of their respective positions. Not many positions are “slam dunks.” The judge needs to be educated not merely that the respective authorities are out there, but why one set of authorities leads to a better result than the other. The judge shouldn’t have to figure it out for him or herself. . . .

Continue reading →

How “Readable” Is Your Writing?

19 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by in Editing, Legal Writing, Plain Language, Proofreading, Readability, Spell Checking

≈ Comments Off on How “Readable” Is Your Writing?

Tags

, , ,

Check Your Language Level, by Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm, Persuasive Litigator Blog

http://www.persuasivelitigator.com/2015/02/check-your-language-level.html

Dr. Brada-Bahm makes a good point. Our job is to be understood, regardless of the method of communication. There is, however, an easy way to check your document’s readability statistics if you use Microsoft Word.  

To set readability statistics for in Word, click on “Options,” then “Proofing.” Scroll down to “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word.” Check the box for “Show readability statistics.” Afterwards, when you run a spell check on any Word document, it will show the readability statistics for your document. -CCE

The image of the trial lawyer that comes closest to our ideal might involve the advocate standing in front of the jury or the bench, waxing eloquent in oral argument. But the reality is that, even for lawyers who get to trial frequently, they’re writing more often than they’re speaking. Before, after, and often instead of those opportunities for oral persuasion, they are drafting briefs, motions, and memos. As attorneys get used to that written style, it can become difficult to gauge how comprehensible they are. You think you’re being perfectly clear — and you are, to you — but you may have lost track of how much work is falling on the reader. There is, however, a tool that can help, and lawyers should be aware of it. Contently, the content-marketing blog, writes about ‘reading level analysis‘ as a free online service you can use in order to test whether you’re writing at, say, a 5th, 9th or 12th grade reading level. The test itself is easy. You simply navigate to the ‘readability-score‘ site, paste any text you want into the window, or upload a file if it is in pdf, or paste in a URL if the text is already online. Then, click ‘calculate score’ and you instantly get a ‘reading ease’ number that varies between 0 (most difficult) and 100 (easiest), along with a more understandable identification of the grade-level that you are writing at. . . .

Continue reading →

10th Circuit Uses Sentence Diagramming To Decipher Federal Gun Statute.

19 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Legal Writing, Readability, Statutory Interpretation

≈ Comments Off on 10th Circuit Uses Sentence Diagramming To Decipher Federal Gun Statute.

Tags

, , , , ,

The Tenth Circuit Applies The Art of Sentence Diagramming, by Judith D. Fischer, Legal Writing Prof Blog (with hat tip to Brian Glassman!)

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2015/02/the-art-of-sentence-diagramming-helps-a-court.html

he Tenth Circuit recently interpreted a statute so confusing that the court decided to diagram some of its language. In United States v. Rentz, the court observed that ‘Few statutes have proven as enigmatic as 18 U.S.C. §24(c),’ which concerns crimes committed while using a firearm. Puzzling over what the statute’s modifiers mean, the court used the same device some of us learned in grade school—setting out a clear diagram of how words relate to one another grammatically. The court thus reached enough clarity to affirm the district court’s decision. Still, the court stated, ‘Even now plenty of hard questions [about the statute’s meaning] remain.’

My conclusions: 1) The art of diagramming sentences should be revived, and 2) Congress should focus more on clear drafting.

“Know All Men By These Presents” — Who’s Getting All The Gifts?

17 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Boilerplate Forms, Boilerplate Forms, Contract Law, Legal Writing, Legalese

≈ Comments Off on “Know All Men By These Presents” — Who’s Getting All The Gifts?

Tags

, , , ,

Presents? Thank You Very — Oh, by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer blog

http://raymondpward.typepad.com/newlegalwriter/2012/01/presents-thank-you-very-oh.html

Every time I see the silly phrase ‘Know all men by these presents,’ I think of Christmas. Perhaps a statement the Magi wanted to make about their presents for the Christ child. Nevertheless, I’m no expert on drafting contracts: on that subject, I defer to Ken Adams, who riffs on the silly phrase in this post.

Can I get a witnesseth?

You’ve Written The Brief. Now What About The Conclusion?

07 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in Brief Writing, Editing, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Plain Language

≈ Comments Off on You’ve Written The Brief. Now What About The Conclusion?

Tags

, , , , ,

No more copying and pasting. Draft a strong conclusion. by Rebecca Phalen Blog

http://www.rebeccaphalen.com/draft-strong-conclusion/

You finally finished drafting the argument section of your brief; you are mentally spent. So for the conclusion you copy and paste: ‘For the foregoing reasons, Defendant asks this Court to grant its motion.’ Yes, it feels a little anticlimactic and abrupt, but at least the brief is done. Perhaps you think that judges aren’t paying attention by the end anyway.

But the next time you are tempted to end your brief this way, consider that Bryan Garner, in Legal Writing in Plain English, called this type of conclusion ‘a formulaic cop-out that says nothing.’ Yikes.

Writing a strong conclusion that actually says something can be hard work. But here are some tips to get you started on ending strongly: . . . .

Continue reading →