Plain language for lawyers: A practical guide to clear communication / Michele M. Asprey.

Alexandria, N.S.W. : The Federation Press, 2024.

5th edition

201873

Law -- Language.

1. What is this book about?

2. What is plain language?

3. Why plain language?

4. Fundamentals

5. Structure

6. Words

7. Grammatical structures to avoid

8. Legal affectations and other nasty habits

9. Overused words and formulas

10. Little words: big problems

11. What about the principles of legal interpretation?

12. A plain language vocabulary

13. Legal writing in the digital age

14. Document design basics

15. Designing for the computer screen

16. Testing your writing

17. Any questions?

Supplement: Plain language around the world

Michèle Asprey’s Plain Language for Lawyers has established itself over the past 33 years and four editions as a comprehensive, authoritative, practical, entertaining and enormously useful book. It: Explores the reasons why lawyers should be writing in plain language, including the legislation that requires it, the cases that call for it, the poor image of lawyers, and explains what clients (and judges) really want in legal writing. Discusses plain language as the international standard for good legal writing and surveys recent developments in plain language worldwide. Explains the main elements of plain language step-by-step, with supporting legal analysis and case law. Examines the principles of legal interpretation in the light of recent case law. Updates its plain language vocabulary. Covers writing for email, social media, websites and the internet, including the latest on defamation law and the implications of emerging artificial intelligence technology. Surveys document design for both print and the computer screen, including updated research on typography, reading speed and comprehension. Plain Language for Lawyers is an essential resource for lawyers who aspire to communicate well. - Publisher's website.

Previous edition: 2010.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1,3,4 (2010)

Core area of lawyer's CPD. Collection needs updating

9781760024963

xi, 338 pages ; 24 cm