Effective Legal Writing Using Plain Language, Part 1

Clear, concise writing is critical to effective legal practice. This program, designed for attorneys seeking to sharpen their legal writing skills, offers practical strategies for applying plain language principles in professional documents. Drawing from real-world examples, expert commentary, and hands-on exercises, the course explores how to eliminate legalese, reduce clutter, and choose words that serve the reader.

Topics covered include avoiding nominalizations, using concrete subjects, favoring active voice, and simplifying word choices - all designed to make legal writing more accessible, persuasive, and efficient. This is Part 1 of a two-part series and focuses on foundational plain language techniques and sentence-level editing skills.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and eliminate empty phrases and nominalizations to improve clarity and conciseness in legal writing

2. Apply plain language principles to draft documents that are more direct, accessible, and reader-focused

3. Use subject-verb-object sentence structures and concrete subjects to enhance readability and comprehension

4. Recognize and revise passive voice constructions to make writing more active and impactful

5. Select precise, plain English vocabulary in place of legal jargon and complex wording