Unlike what you see on TV, smooth talking in the courtroom isn’t the only way to win a case. It may not even be the best way.
Winning a case begins with the legal briefs you write before you even set foot in the courtroom. Once pertinent persons have read the briefs from both sides, they’re already beginning to form their opinion about the case.
To set yourself up for success, you need to have sharp legal writing skills. Let’s take a look at a few tips to help you get them razor sharp.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Legal briefs should be, as the name implies, brief and to the point. You want your reader to be able to read through the document quickly and easily digest the appropriate information.
Thus, as you are writing, keep your eye on the prize. In other words, don’t lose sight of your purpose and audience.
There are many different types of attorneys, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re writing to a DUI lawyer or preparing a brief for a judge. Every word that you include should be supporting the purpose of your article.
Keep your content organized and present it in a logical manner. Use transition words to help the reader move more seamlessly from one point to the next.
Choose Your Words Wisely
To that end, you must be careful about the words you use. Don’t waste time writing in flowery language or using big words to sound “like a lawyer”. Use direct language that is simple and to the point.
On the other hand, you don’t want to sound too simple. You don’t need to explain things or terms that your audience already knows. These aren’t laymen that will be reading your article. Use legal terms as appropriate.
Keep your writing concise. There is no need to add extra words if you don’t have to. For example, instead of saying ‘in the event that you discover more evidence’ you can say ‘if you find more evidence’.
Winning a case begins with the legal briefs you write before you even set foot in the courtroom. Once pertinent persons have read the briefs from both sides, they’re already beginning to form their opinion about the case.
To set yourself up for success, you need to have sharp legal writing skills. Let’s take a look at a few tips to help you get them razor sharp.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Legal briefs should be, as the name implies, brief and to the point. You want your reader to be able to read through the document quickly and easily digest the appropriate information.
Thus, as you are writing, keep your eye on the prize. In other words, don’t lose sight of your purpose and audience.
There are many different types of attorneys, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re writing to a DUI lawyer or preparing a brief for a judge. Every word that you include should be supporting the purpose of your article.
Keep your content organized and present it in a logical manner. Use transition words to help the reader move more seamlessly from one point to the next.
Choose Your Words Wisely
To that end, you must be careful about the words you use. Don’t waste time writing in flowery language or using big words to sound “like a lawyer”. Use direct language that is simple and to the point.
On the other hand, you don’t want to sound too simple. You don’t need to explain things or terms that your audience already knows. These aren’t laymen that will be reading your article. Use legal terms as appropriate.
Keep your writing concise. There is no need to add extra words if you don’t have to. For example, instead of saying ‘in the event that you discover more evidence’ you can say ‘if you find more evidence’.
0 comments:
Post a Comment