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Simple English definitions for legal terms

legal writing

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A quick definition of legal writing:

Legal writing is a type of writing used in the legal profession. It involves communicating legal information in a clear and concise manner, while adhering to specific standards. There are two main types of legal writing: balanced analysis and persuasive writing. Balanced analysis involves presenting legal information in a way that is appropriate for the intended audience, while persuasive writing aims to convince others of a particular argument. Legal writing also includes drafting legal documents, such as contracts and wills, which requires careful attention to detail. Additionally, legal writing uses a unique system of citation to reference legal authorities.

A more thorough explanation:

Legal writing refers to the specialized forms of written communication required in many legal settings. It is the medium in which a lawyer must express their analysis of an issue and seek to persuade others on their clients' behalf. Any legal document must be concise, clear, and conform to the objective standards that have evolved in the legal profession.

There are generally two types of legal writing:

  • Analysis: This type requires a balanced analysis of a legal problem or issue. Examples of this type are inter-office memoranda and letters to clients. The lawyer must be sensitive to the needs, level of interest, and background of the parties to whom it is addressed.
  • Persuasive: This type of writing is used in appellate briefs and negotiation letters written on a client's behalf. The lawyer must persuade their audience without provoking a hostile response through disrespect or by wasting the recipient's time with unnecessary information.

The drafting of legal documents, such as contracts and wills, is yet another type of legal writing. Poor drafting can lead to unnecessary litigation and otherwise injure the interests of a client.

The legal profession has its own unique system of citation. Court rules generally specify the citation format required of all memoranda or briefs filed with the court. These rules have not kept up with the changing technology of legal research. Within recent years, online and disk-based law collections have become primary research tools for many lawyers and judges. Several jurisdictions have responded and many more are sure to follow.

An example of analysis legal writing is an inter-office memorandum that details definitions of basic legal concepts. This type of writing is inefficient and an annoyance if it is addressed to a partner in the same firm. In contrast, the absence of these definitions from a letter to a client with no legal background could serve to confuse and complicate a simple situation.

An example of persuasive legal writing is an appellate brief written on a client's behalf. The lawyer must persuade the court without provoking a hostile response through disrespect or by wasting the recipient's time with unnecessary information.

An example of legal drafting is the preparation of a contract or will. Guides are available to aid a lawyer in preparing the documents, but a unique application of the "form" to the facts of the situation is often required.

These examples illustrate the different types of legal writing and the importance of tailoring the writing to the intended audience and purpose.

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19:42
it was hard to not improve it. google search was terrible due to the ads and seo cheaters with buzz words and alt text
Dkk
19:42
SEO is big money
2016 pushed the conservative party into populism irreversibly
Dkk
19:43
Maybe, but if this is populism, then every election is populist.
19:43
@Dkk: yeah register 1 website and every swinging tom dick and harry calls/emails/texts to 'help with seo'. like bruh, if YOU found it, what i am doing is working
Dkk
19:43
Indeed!
19:48
wasp, i think people are hopeful for a gov who at least attempts to care about the common man
MIAMI A
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:55
How does one know if they are UR1 or UR2?
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:56
CONGRATS MACAQUE!
TY
got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
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