Avoid unnecessary repetition. Repetition is one of the most useful tools available to authors. Repetition allows a writer or speaker to hammer home an idea, image, or relationship to force the reader to pay attention. Sir Winston Churchill said: “When you have an important point to make, don`t try to be subtle or intelligent. Use a batch driver. Get straight to the point. Then come back and hit it again. Then you beat him a third time – a huge blow. What should be avoided is unnecessary repetition. Use “consensus” instead of “consensus of opinion”; “Panacea” instead of “Panacea for all evils”; “Cancel” instead of “Cancel, Cancel and Set Aside”.
Shorten sentences. There are only two remedies for a long sentence: say less and put a period in the middle.17 Short sentences make it easier to read. The mind easily digests sentences that are offered in small bites. However, here is a precautionary measure. Do not bore the reader with a train of short sentences. Vary the length of sentences to make them interesting. The diversity of sentences is the spice of good legal writing. There is no definitive rule for preparing and writing a letter about a case or case. However, to write an effective and impressive briefing, some tips can be given. The most common advice authors give to those who want to improve their writing skills is reading – this applies to any type of writing.
To specifically improve your legal writing skills, find good legal and business writers and read their work. These can be legal documents, but also books, blogs and articles. While most legal documents have a specific template format that can be referenced, whether it`s an opinion or a lawsuit, legal writing also includes the art of drafting authentic documents. This means that the document is written on a case-by-case basis instead of blindly following a particular pattern. The lawyer must also ensure that all facts, statements and laws included in the document are reviewed and supported by evidence, case law or legislation. Concise. Keep it short. To communicate, do so with the shipping. If the judge can be convinced by 10 pages of reasoning, there is no need to write a 60-page plea. Remember that it is the arguments that are weighed, not the paper on which they are printed. Cut, cut, cut. Get straight to the point.
Keywords are short, fast and direct. As Thomas Jefferson said, “The most valuable of all talents is to never use two words when you go to do it.” Use “Apply” instead of “submit an application”; “make an appointment”, “name”; “applies”, “applies”; “Have knowledge”, “know”. Avoid legal jargon as much as possible. If you communicate with non-lawyers like our clients, let`s use plain English and free our writing from legal jargon or legal language. The role of legal writing is to communicate, not to obscure. So use only the language that readers understand. But even when drafting pleadings or legal documents such as contracts, you should remove legal language as much as possible. Avoid the use of legal words and formalisms that give legal writing “a musty smell”21, as here, for that, mentioned above, here, here, here, here, here, etc. What is the difference in meaning between “The court is rendered herein” and “the court is rendered”? Of course, some concepts of art are inevitable: lis pendens; out of curiosity; prima facie; reserva troncal; life imprisonment; res ipsa loquitur; Superior Respondeat. Use legal terms when it comes to linguistic accuracy.
A report is a piece of information that contains information about specific events in a widely representable form. Reports are often transmitted in writing, language, television or film. Reports may cover specific periods, events, events or topics and may be communicated or submitted orally or in writing. INTRODUCTION: A case commentary ideally begins with a short paragraph that identifies the topic of the case to give the reader a good idea of the topics we will cover in the commentary. Although some of these services are free, many of them will have a paid version to unlock additional features. Consider investing in some of these paid versions if your job requires a lot of writing – it`s worth taking your legal writing skills to the next level. Naturally, it can be difficult to spot spelling and grammar mistakes right away. Once you`ve read your document several times, you`ll usually make your own glassy mistakes.
Other useful legal writing tips for the editing process involve reading your writing aloud or backwards to refine your focus and spot mistakes that you would otherwise have overlooked. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Before dealing with the required question, discuss in detail the characteristics of good legal drafting” It is very important to have a functional understanding [definition] of what the term “legal drafting” implies, and then one can try to discuss its characteristics. The online wikipedia dictionary defines legal writing as a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and other jurists to express legal analysis and legal rights and obligations. Essentially, legal drafting is used in practice to advocate or express the resolution of a client`s legal issue. But then, what is good legal drafting? A well-written legal document, according to Professor Mark Osbeck, is “a document that satisfies the needs and interests of the target audience.” Lawyers and judges read legal documents because they need to extract information from those documents to help them make decisions in the course of their professional duties. Therefore, the legal reader will consider that a document is well written only if the letter facilitates this decision-making. After discussing the concepts of legal drafting and good legal drafting, one can try to discuss the characteristics of legal drafting in the most relevant way. 1.2CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LEGAL LETTER In Nigeria, the basis of the legal letter can be traced back to; Oputa, JSC, at pages 413-414, commented: “The lawyer who is faced with the task of preparing a brief would do well to remember what can be called the ABCs of all legal writings, namely; Precision, clarity and brevity. 2.0 ACCURACY Accuracy, as a feature of legal drafting, aims to render the legal facts correct in all their details and to ensure that the cases cited are viable as precedents and represent what they are cited for. It also requires that statements made be presented as they are, without bias or half-truths. Accuracy represents honesty as one of the most important elements of good legal writing.
Judge Daniel Friedman of the Courts of Appeals of the Federal Circuits of the United States of America speaks of honesty: “If it turns out that a lawyer is not accurate, that he is not open, that he distorts things, even the things he has rightly said are likely to be rejected by the court. “.