The Purpose of Legal Writing
By: Law is Cool · November 5, 2008 · Filed Under Humour · 6 Comments
h/t Livia Jozsa of UofT Political Science (2008)
Post tags: Livia Jozsa
Comments
6 Responses to “The Purpose of Legal Writing”
Leave a Reply
Disclaimer
The contents of this site are intended for educational purposes only.
We encourage anyone in a situation requiring legal advice to seek professional consultation from an accredited lawyer recognized by the bar society in their jurisdiction of practice.
Law Is Cool is an open forum for ideas, intended to stimulate discussion. The views expressed in posts and comments are those of the individual contributor and may not be reflective of the views of other authors or readers.
Podcast Feeds
Pages
-
Latest Posts
- Government Ignores “Tough on Crime” Statistics
- If school kills creativity, what about law school?
- Loophole in Olympic Rulebook
- OPP Officer Murdered, Tragic Irony…
- How to avoid committing sexual assault
- Two AIG Subsidiaries Agree To Settle Racial Discrimination Case
- Can you imagine a world without lawyers?
- IRB Under Review
- How Bigotry Became Respectful
-
Latest Comments
- Jamie Burgess on Iacobucci to Investigate on Detainee Documents
- Ryan MacIsaac on How to avoid committing sexual assault
- Ryan MacIsaac on Iacobucci to Investigate on Detainee Documents
- JamesHalifax on Speaking of getting “tough on crime”, how about “hate”?
- JamesHalifax on How lawyers think
- JamesHalifax on Can you imagine a world without lawyers?
- JamesHalifax on How to avoid committing sexual assault
- KC on Are there inalienable rights in Canada?
- Alan on Speaking of getting “tough on crime”, how about “hate”?
- Loopholes: Rights and Taxes « Eric Grigg on Are there inalienable rights in Canada?
Post Categories
- Aboriginal Law
- Administrative
- Administrative Law
- ADR/Mediation
- Bankrupcy & Insolvency
- Blogroll
- Civil Procedure
- Civil Rights
- Class Action
- Constitutional Law
- Construction Law
- Contracts
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Law
- Diversity in Law
- Entertainment Law
- Environmental Law
- Ethics
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Health Law
- Humour
- Immigration Law
- Intellectual Property
- International Law
- Labour & Employment Law
- Law Career
- Law Foundations
- Law School
- Legal Reform
- Legal Research
- Marketing/PR in Law
- Media Law
- Podcasts
- Politics
- Pop Culture
- Privacy
- Privacy Law
- Pro Bono
- Property
- Regulatory Law
- Reviews
- Securities Law
- Tax Law
- Technology
- Torts
- Trusts/Estates
- Uncategorized
Aboriginal Law
Administrative Law
Class Action Suits
Constitutional Law & Civil Rights
Corporate Law
Criminal Law
Environmental Law
Family Law
Firms
- Back of Envelope blog
- BC Business Law Blog
- BC LawLINE
- bob tarantino
- Canada Immigration
- Canada Immigration Blog
- Canadian Immigration Blawg
- Canadian Privacy Law Blog
- Canadian Securities Law Online
- Canadian Trademark Blog
- Cavanaagh Williams
- Daniel A. Lublin
- Daniel Lublin
- EXCESS COPYRIGHT
- GenereuxLaw
- Hoyes Michalos and Associates
- Injury Law Blog.com
- Law of the Land
- Municipal, Planning & Environmental Law Group Blog
- Now, Why Didn’t I Think of That?
- Osler Audio Reports
- Real Lawyers Have Blogs
- Renewable Energy & Sustainable Development Group Blog
- Robinson Sheppard Shapiro
- Rule of Law
- Schenk & Associates
- Strictly Legal
- Thoughts from a Management Lawyer
- Toronto Estate Law Blog
- Venture Law Lines
Fun & Entertainment
Health Law
Immigration Law
Intellectual Property
- Atlanteknology
- Bag and Baggage
- Canadian Trademark Blog
- Chaire en droit de la sécurité et des affaires électroniques
- CopyrightWatch.ca
- e legal
- EXCESS COPYRIGHT
- GenereuxLaw
- IP Osgoode
- Life Science Law
- Michael Geist’s Blog
- Now, Why Didn’t I Think of That?
- Rob Hyndman
- Slaw
- techblawg
- The Intellectual Property Law Blog
- Video Game Law Blog
International Law
Labour & Employment Law
Labour Law
Law Marketing/PR
Law News
Law School
- Ablawg.ca
- Chaire en droit de la sécurité et des affaires électroniques
- Constantinos Ragas
- Emadi St. Pierre
- Law Enforcement Accountability Project (LEAP)
- Law, Eh? Canadian Law School
- lawstudents.ca
- Legal and Literary Society
- Legal Intellects
- Lisa Hutch – The Trials
- Michael Geist’s Blog
- Michelle’s World
- Motion to Recess
- Non Traditional Law Student
- Outlines
- Privity: Just between You and Me
- The Court
- Trials and Tribulations
- TwistLaw.com
- UBC Law Library Blog
- University of Toronto Law School Faculty Blog
Legal Research
- Ballad in Plain E
- British Columbia Courthouse Library Society
- Connie Crosby
- CultureLibre.ca (French)
- Law21
- Library Boy
- LibTech Life
- Right and Remedies
- Shaunna Mireau on Canadian Legal Research
- Slaw
- Thoughtful Legal Management
- TwistLaw.com
- UBC Law Library Blog
- Vancouver Law Librarian Blog
- Wines and Information Management (WIM) (French)
Personal Injury Law
Podcasts
Politics
Property & Estate Law
Securities Law
Student Blogs
Archives
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
Awards
Partners
- Advertise Here
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The Whiners - The Elusive Fish Creative Services
- Mesothelioma Lawyer
- no win no fee solicitors
- Compensation Claims
- personal injury lawyer toronto
- no win no fee
- Pardons Canada Accident Claim Medical Negligence Whiplash Claim
- No win No fee Claims
- Venue
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

RSS Feed









Hi Omar, you added my comic! Glad I could help contribute to your blog :) You spelled my name incorrectly, however… it’s Livia Jozsa.. ‘z’ before ’s’ :)
Also, as a sidenote… from what I’ve heard, I still don’t think legal writing is what the cartoon implies above. i.e. in the ‘legal writing’ course (in first year), the writing is encouraged to be more succinct & defined – a more disciplined form of writing. I think the ‘intimidating, impenetrable fog’ part comes in when reading actual cases or judicial reasoning? not necessarily from the students… (I hope!)
p.s. I feel somewhat deceiving reading that comment, as my tone almost appears authoritative in nature… I’m not (yet) in law school, but have a lot of friends who are and have personally heard their horror stories about how legal writing is the exact -opposite- of what the cartoon above implies… just wanted to say as a postnote. :) I posted this cartoon on my site… and Omar just grabbed it for his blog and gave credit. Soo… I am not liable for anything, end of story :)
cheers.
I think this cartoon illustrates some of the keys to legal writing.
Make things more complicated than they need be.
Use big words where simple ones will do.
Load up the sentences with words.
Load up the words with syllables.
its a new idea to reach through the people..
*************
Gomez
ahh I see what you’re saying Martin… true. Gomez’s comment… not so sure what he’s saying.. lol.
I know the comic is intended for humor (IE: it is a comic), but I just wanted to comment on the comments. When I entered law School in Michigan in 1989-1992(Graduated in 92) My first year legal reasearch & writing class which is a required course was somewhat of a blow to what I had learned throughout my life. Basically we were told & Taught to throw everything we had learned so far, out and learn to write very succinct & to stay on point. While this did not hinder my Cum Laude graduation -I am rumored to have filled up more blue books on each exam than the rest of the class put together. Even if the exam stated to address only the issues of topic I nevertheless always managed to inadvertently go off on tangents and write things like ” however, if the crime had been.. or however if the accident were not the prxomate cause… then.” I received mostly A’s”
In the real world you learn that law school does not prepare you for Active courtroom duty, Trials etc. This can be mastered only by doing. I believe the same is true for legal writing. The most important factor being, as it is in any form of writing; “KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE” Do your research, know what the Judge, or the Court of Appeals, or The Supreme Court Justices like to see and read in a brief. We all have our own style. Some like to read the large impressive intimidating words and some prefer the succint and to the point legal briefs.
The same is true for your clients. Many like for your letters to be easily readable and for you to use laymen words. Others, I have discovered. however appear to be far more impressed with lawyers who sound …well lawyerly…who use legal words. They feel like they are actually paying for someone who can actually do a much better job at writing than they can without their law degree)
Try to find a happy median. Use enough large words and whatever it takes to “inflate weak legal ideas” as long as you can back up your source and also keep your writing succint, brief and to the point. I have been trying to master that for 18 years yet and if this comment is indicative of how far I have come, I have a long way to go
Enjoyed the humorous comic & LOVE this Blog