Effective writing for lawyers

As a lawyer, you spend much of your time writing – so why not do it well. You may think you are an excellent lawyer, but you will not be a successful practitioner unless you can communicate the law effectively in writing to the person who must read and act on your letter or document. If you use these guidelines, your writing will be clearer and more effective. Good lawyers use plain English and avoid jargon and legalese. Good writing is effective communication and a sign of professionalism that enhances your reputation. There is no one formula for writing well. However here are two that might help: (A) KISS: "Keep It Short and Simple", ie where possible, use short words, short sentences, short paragraphs, active voice and avoid repetition. ; (B) APLE: Consider the Audience, the Purpose, the Language and Effectiveness as you write. Context is always important. What works for one letter or document or type of reader or purpose may not work for another. You need to decide when and how to apply the guidelines outlined in this chapter. The guidelines aim to help you think about what you are doing, including why you are writing your document and to remind you of things to look out for as you write. If this is new to you, aim to apply each guideline one at a time rather than all at once. However, keep in mind the best way to learn to write well is to read a lot, and write often. The advent of email has changed the way many lawyers communicate. It has led to informal styles and heightened risk of inaccuracies and ill-considered comments or replies sent without pause for review. Other risks of email involve the ease of forwarding messages to others not intended by the writer, and permanent storage for future use. On the other hand, the speed of email can enable quick resolution of disputes if handled carefully in appropriate situations. Good lawyers need to decide when and how to use email rather than letters for professional communications