Full Description
In this critically acclaimed book, Tom Goldstein and Jethro K. Lieberman demystify legal writing, outline the causes and consequences of poor writing, and prescribe easy-to-apply remedies to improve it. Reflecting changes in law practice over the past decade, this revised edition includes new sections around communicating digitally, getting to the point, and writing persuasively. It also provides an editing checklist, editing exercises with a suggested revision key, usage notes that address common errors, and reference works to further aid your writing. This straightforward guide is an invaluable tool for practicing lawyers and law students.
Contents
Preface PART I: Why Lawyers Write Poorly 1. Does Bad Writing Really Matter? 2. Don't Make It Like It Was PART II: The Practice Of Writing 3. Ten Steps to Writing It Down 4. Of Dawdlers and Scrawlers, Pacers and Plungers: Getting Started and Overcoming Blocks 5. The Technology of Getting It Down: From Quill Pens to Computers 6. Lawyers as Publishers: Words Are Your Product PART III: Getting To The Point 7. Writing Persuasively for Your Audience: Tell Your Audience the Point 8. Writing the Lead PART IV: Revising For Clarity And Luster 9. Form, Structure, and Organization 10. Wrong Words, Long Sentences, and Other Mister Meaners 11. Revising Your Prose 12. Making Your Writing Memorable Notes Usage Notes An Editing Checklist Editing Exercises Suggested Revisions to Editing Exercises Reference Works Acknowledgments About The Authors Index
