Are you making these 4 common mistakes in your Memo?

Dear 1L, Every year, I see the EXACT SAME substantive mistakes in 1L legal
memos.

Here are the 4 biggest, common culprits.

I’ll get you a self-editing checklist with technical fixes tomorrow For now, start by fixing these:

1️⃣ TOO MANY LONG, CONFUSING SENTENCES

FIX: Scan for sentences of 2+ lines. 2 lines of standard text contain about 20-25 words. Break apart some long sentences, or pepper in some shorter ones. Your AVERAGE sentence length should be about 20 words.

—Long sentences are monotonous to read. They also get confusing fast, and they’re ripe for comma & pronoun errors.

2️⃣ MISSING TICTAC COMMAS

FIX: If a sentence has 2 independent clauses, you MUST add a comma.

✅ A liked x, and B liked y.
❌ A liked x and B liked y.

—Otherwise, your reader may initially read “A liked x and B” as a complete
thought and get tripped up.

3️⃣ TOO MUCH PASSIVE VOICE

FIX: Ask yourself “WHO IS ACTING?” for each verb. Put the person (i.e., the
“subject”) coming FIRST in sentences.

✅ Boy hits ball.
❌ Ball is hit by boy.

—Passive sentences kill clarity.
—They’re longer.
—They make your reader feel “bleh.”

4️⃣ ANALYZING NEW FACTS

FIX: Never include a fact in your “Discussion” section that you haven’t first
stated neutrally in your “Facts” section.

—This is just a legal-writing rule.

What questions do you have? How else can I help?
Fondly,
Amanda

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