About legal writing 

Does it have to be different?

Legal language is used to record and explain the most important events in people's lives -- shouldn't it be understandable?

Legal writing should be well organized (simple), grammatically correct, modern, and use everyday words (plain). And this is the style taught in law schools today.

Modernizing the archaic style lawyers learned through the ages and in law firms by rote is easy and with a little practice becomes habit.

If you are a lawyer, it is easy to learn if you have the desire. So go for it.

By the way, this iceberg graphic is from Anastasia who sometimes writes about legal writing at her blawg Lawsagna http://lawsagna.typepad.com/lawsagna/.

Why George Orwell's Ideas About Language Still Matter for Lawyers 

Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=990624

SSRN Electronic Paper Collection

Abstract:
This article examines George Orwell's theories about language and applies them to contemporary legal discourse in the United States. It concludes that Orwell's advice about the importance of clear, plain English comports with today's accepted legal writing style. However, his warnings about deceptive language in legal and political discourse have not been well heeded. The article suggests that lawyers can assume a role in changing that.

Online Resources in Modern Legal Writing 

Plain Language Resource Center

National Center for State Courts provides a listing:
* Plain Language in the Judicial System
* Plain Language in Jury Proceedings
* Plain Language in Drafting Legal Documents
* Plain Language in General

Cheryl Stephens on Legal Communication

Legal communication is a client-service issue. I have gathered some of my articles here to give you a head start. These articles deal with day to day client communication and service -- not with legal drafting of dispositive documents.

PLAIN Legal Resources

Articles about legal writing in plain style by numerous authors who are members of the Plain Language Association International.

Lawyers for Literacy

Information about client difficulties with legalese and how to better serve those clients.

Plain Language -- the Original Site

Resources on writing in plain language

ABA Conference Materials 2004

"How Business Lawyers Should Write"
a pdf file, several authors

Scribes: The American Society of Legal Writers

This page offers you a look at the tables of contents of previous issues of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing. The journal itself should be available in your local law library.

The Illinois Trial Practice Weblog

Six posts on legal writing

What About Clients? Blog

Advice from a practicing attorney:
December 19, 2005
Writing For Clients--Just Say It
by Dan Hull
His previous three posts do not add to this final one.

Eschew, Evade, and/or Eradicate Legalese

Prof. Eugene Volokh provides a chart of substitutions for legalese terms.

What exactly is legalese? 

The Lens on Legalese

History, source, commentary

Need a plain language definition? 

Plain English and Six Other Languages

Multilingual Legal Glossary

The glossary is hosted by the Vancouver Community College Certificate Program in Court Interpreting in Vancouver, Canada.

Legal Writing Blawgs 

a carnival of legal writing blogs

Legal Writing Blawgs

Be sure to come back...

Building Rapport 

the basis of effective communication

CafePress Store: Building Rapport

"Good Writing" product line at http://www.cafepress.com/buildingrapport/

Building Rapport Blog

advocating plain language, clear design, sensitivity to audience concerns, and civility

Information Design Concerns 

Clearly Displayed and Simply Laid-Out Info Is Needed

Basic Rules of Graphic Design

Suggestions for better text and document design addressing common problems for legal documents.

Legal Writing on Amazon