Improving your writing throughout your career, part 3
Part 3 of 7—Get some references Once you’ve admitted you have room to improve your writing—that you still have things to learn—start learning. A great way to learn about writing is to consult the...
View ArticleImproving your writing throughout your career, part 4
Part 4 of 7—Read the best books If you’re really serious about improving, you’ll have to do more than consult references. You’ll have to study the principles of good writing and good legal writing. But...
View ArticleImproving your writing throughout your career, part 5
Part 5 of 7—Practice what you learn You’re reading about writing and you’re consulting writing references. You’re becoming an informed legal writer. Now practice what you’re learning. Of course, for...
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Improving your writing throughout your career, part 6
Part 6 of 7—Edit better We all understand that editing is a crucial part of the writing process. Most of us (and don’t assume you’re the exception) can’t produce high-quality writing in one draft (or...
View ArticleImproving your writing throughout your career, part 7
Part 7 of 7—Accept critique Now here’s the hardest part: seek and welcome critiques and candid suggestions for improving your writing. This one’s tough because it’s natural to be defensive about your...
View ArticleLawyers are Professional Writers
For three main reasons, you, as a lawyer, are a professional writer. 1. Lawyers are paid to write. That takes you out of amateur status. And most of us don’t write a little. We write a lot. I remember...
View ArticleCustomize Word’s Grammar Checker
Do you use Microsoft Word’s grammar checker? I’ve asked hundreds of lawyers at CLE seminars over the years, and the near-unanimous answer is no. I hear muttered words like “useless,” and “stupid.” I...
View ArticleAttend our new legal-writing seminar
I’d love to see you at a new legal-writing CLE seminar offered by UTCLE on November 15 in Austin, Texas: Legal Writing: Precision and Persuasion I’ll be presenting the seminar with my colleague Kamela...
View ArticleLegal Writing: Precision and Persuasion (CLE)
Please visit this page: Legal Writing: Precision and Persuasion To attend a 6-hour CLE seminar on legal writing. The seminar includes 1 hour of ethics credit. The seminar presenters are Wayne Schiess...
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New book on legal writing
I just finished reading Sketches on Legal Style by Mark Cooney, and I loved it. Lots of practical advice in a readable, engaging book. I recommend it. From the publisher’s website: Who says legal...
View ArticleDon’t Rest on Plateaus
Are the legal-writing classes you had in law school the last writing training you’ll need for your career? If you’re a bankruptcy lawyer, was a law-school class the last bankruptcy training you’ll...
View ArticleThe biggest impediment
The biggest impediment to better legal writing isn’t the lack of quality instruction in law school. It’s law practice. Deadlines. Time limits. Conventions. Fear. Supervisor expectations. Local rules....
View ArticleImproving your writing throughout your career, part 5
Part 5 of 7—Practice what you learn You’re reading about writing and you’re consulting writing references. You’re becoming an informed legal writer. Now practice what you’re learning. Of course, for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Improving your writing throughout your career, part 6
Part 6 of 7—Edit better We all understand that editing is a crucial part of the writing process. Most of us (and don’t assume you’re the exception) can’t produce high-quality writing in one draft (or...
View ArticleImproving your writing throughout your career, part 7
Part 7 of 7—Accept critique Now here’s the hardest part: seek and welcome critiques and candid suggestions for improving your writing. This one’s tough because it’s natural to be defensive about your...
View ArticleLawyers are Professional Writers
For three main reasons, you, as a lawyer, are a professional writer. 1. Lawyers are paid to write. That takes you out of amateur status. And most of us don’t write a little. We write a lot. I remember...
View ArticleCustomize Word’s Grammar Checker
Do you use Microsoft Word’s grammar checker? I’ve asked hundreds of lawyers at CLE seminars over the years, and the near-unanimous answer is no. I hear muttered words like “useless,” and “stupid.” I...
View ArticleAttend our new legal-writing seminar
I’d love to see you at a new legal-writing CLE seminar offered by UTCLE on November 15 in Austin, Texas: Legal Writing: Precision and Persuasion I’ll be presenting the seminar with my colleague Kamela...
View ArticleLegal Writing: Precision and Persuasion (CLE)
Please visit this page: Legal Writing: Precision and Persuasion To attend a 6-hour CLE seminar on legal writing. The seminar includes 1 hour of ethics credit. The seminar presenters are Wayne Schiess...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New book on legal writing
I just finished reading Sketches on Legal Style by Mark Cooney, and I loved it. Lots of practical advice in a readable, engaging book. I recommend it. From the publisher’s website: Who says legal...
View Article
