Dear Legal Writer, It's hot off the presses, and I'm pumped!
For the first time, Scribes’s best legal-writing essays since 1990 can be found all in one place:
“Gems from The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing: Volumes 1–20,” an anthology edited by Joe Kimble.
🔹 A word on the editor:
I've never met Joe Kimble. But his name has long been associated in my mind with the very best legal writing advice.
👉 If you've ever tried to write clearly in this profession, you've benefited from Joe Kimble’s work. Even if you didn't know it.
Congratulations, Joe. The legal writing world is lucky to have you curating this collection.
🔹 Two reasons this book will help you:
1: The more you learn a craft's history, the more pleasure you take in practicing it. And this book gives you a big piece of that history.
2: If you want to become excellent at something, you have to find heroes to aspire to.
Heroes give you something to aim for, and something to lean on when it's hard.
And this book collects advice from the most esteemed legal-writing thinkers, so it’s chock full of prime “hero” candidates for you—including Bryan Garner, my personal legal-writing hero.
🔹 I could end with "go get your copy." But you're a busy lawyer with billable hours to work and demanding clients to cater to.
So instead, here's my promise:
I'll read all 600 pages, and I'll bring you the gems of the gems.
Follow along here, and get my monthly newsletter on legal writing so you don't miss any helpful tips or insights: Dear Legal Writer(™): Three 🎶 Notes — https://lnkd.in/gY3EBavd
💌 Amanda
#DearLegalWriter
P.S. One caution as you dig into the book: It contains satire that can fool the uninformed.
Chapter 3, "Extra-Special Secrets of Appellate Brief-Writing," by then-Justice Nathan L. Hecht, is a deadpan joke, not real advice.
Read too fast, and you might believe him when he says that:
-brief covers should be chosen for their persuasive hue;
-“COMES NOW” must come at the start of every brief; and
-every brief must contain a large section that vilifies opposing counsel
It's satire built on real bad habits. The joke only lands once you know what good writing looks like. Which is exactly why this book is worth your time!
