9 Proactive Questions I Recommend You Ask

Dear Legal Writer:

You will often get asked to complete writing projects with little to no guidance on what’s expected.

This happens a lot to junior lawyers.

When it happens to you:

Please DON’T guess.
Please DON’T wing it.

✅ Please DO find out all needed info info BEFORE starting.

Here are the types of proactive questions I recommend you ask:
 
1: How long should it be?

2: What format should I use?

3: By when do you want it completed?

4: Do you have a particular style I should emulate, or any pet peeves I should avoid?

5: Is there a model I should use?

6: How much time should I spend on it?

7: In what form would you like me to transmit it once done?

8: *What is the intended use for it?

9: *Who will be reading it?
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*These last 2 are really key.

—A research memo for a senior lawyer, for example, might be the first draft of a memo to a client or of a larger brief, but the style you need to use may be very different depending on which.

—If a client memo is the ultimate intended use, you should also find out whether that client is a lawyer or a businessperson. Your style and tone will be different depending on your audience.

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I could never remember everything I needed to ask, so I found it helpful to have a checklist I could refer to.

Save this for future reference, or make your own list!
 
💌 Amanda

#DearLegalWriter

🗳️ What other questions do you recommend asking before every legal-writing project?

P.S. Want more legal-writing tips? Sign up to receive my “3 Bullets” monthly letter here: https://writinglawtutors.com/newsletter/