There are many types of legal writing—demand letters, opinion letters, research memos, motions, briefs, judicial opinions, contracts, statutes, and ordinances, to name just a few. Although each type presents a unique challenge, they all have some things in common. That is, certain principles of good writing apply to the whole gamut. These 20 principles make up Part One, which is divided into three subparts:
• Framing Your Thoughts
• Phrasing Your Sentences
• Choosing Your Words
Whatever the document, you’ll be doing those three things. The 20 tips that follow should help you do them better.