Dear Legal Writer: Introduction
Dear Legal Writer: Welcome! I’m starting #dearlegalwriter to collect my writing posts and offer a space for newer legal writers to ask questions and learn.
🔹 I write from the perspective of a former 20-year BigLaw litigator, law-firm blog editor, and Fortune 500 in-house counsel.
Currently, I am retired from active practice and devote my time to learning, writing, and teaching. I am a mother of 3 and a teacher at my core.
🔹 In my letters:
1: I’ll strive for clarity above all else—as you should all do in your own legal writing.
If something isn’t clear, it can neither inform nor persuade. I hope you will point out anything that is unclear to you, so that I, too, can become a more effective teacher & writer.
2: I’ll provide short nuggets and tools you can apply today.
3: I’ll use examples from everyday life that are easy to grasp.
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4: I’ll share new ideas and ways to explain things that I’ve been developing in the hopes of receiving your feedback.
🔹 Some of you will already “know” & have opinions about what I’ll teach.
I’ll try to inform those who do not, but I invite all experienced folks to be my teaching helpers, if you want to be.
(And frankly, we could all use some reminders of what we “know” about legal writing.)
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For today, I first want to pay homage to some legal-writing greats who have helped me become a better legal writer. In doing so, I also answer the frequent question I get about where you should turn for self-study.
🔸 I’d begin with Bryan Garner.
I “grew up” on Garner, so perhaps I’m biased, but I see his works as the most logical place to start.
—Legal Writing in Plain English, The Winning Brief, and Garner’s Modern Legal Usage all should be on your bookshelves.
🔸 Ross Guberman Ross Guberman is my other big influencer.
I cannot say enough great things about Ross. His generosity to me has been unbound, and I continue to learn from his works every day.
—BriefCatch and Point Made are extraordinary works that all legal writers should rely on.
🔸 Train online with Joe Regalia & write .law.
Finally, if you want to take legal-writing courses online, I really like the programs at write .law.
You’ll find several top-quality options there that are self-paced. The site is run by another writing great, UNLV Legal-Writing Professor Joe Regalia. Joe has, like Ross, been very good to me.
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Thank you for reading, and I welcome you as one of my Readers. Follow —> #DearLegalWriter for future letters.
Fondly,
💌 Amanda