The Importance Of A Legal Writing Coach

By Essie Osborn


Lawyers are always needed to write their presentations in a specialized way. Their writings need to bring out the full expression of their analysis of various problems or issues and be able to convince third parties when representing their clients. The main point is that the documents needs to be concise, clear and following the rules and regulations set by the legal profession. This is where a legal writing coach comes in.

There are two types of writing common to lawyers. The first one normally creates a balance on the legal issue at hand. It includes writing of documents such as inter-office memoranda and letters being addressed to clients. While addressing the recipients, the lawyer needs to make sure that he/she has taken into account the interests of the client as well as having considered his/her background.

If for example one is sending a memorandum to a fellow lawyer in the firm, he/she needs not to define basic law definitions or otherwise the whole thing would be totally inefficient and may even lead to annoyance. However, this is not the same when the person being addressed is a client who does not understand much about law. If he/she is sent the same writing as the other lawyer, then he would only remain confused.

The second type of legal writing common in the profession is the persuasive kind. Documents written for such purposes need to very clear and precise. The lawyer therefore needs to make sure that he has put his points straight forward without provoking the other party being addressed. Documents of this kind include appellate briefs and negotiation letters. It is also required of writings being presented to administrative agencies and the court to follow the right style.

Other legal documents that are normally drafted by lawyers include wills and contracts. If they are drafted in the wrong manner, then the interests of the client may end up being injured. Even though there are guides for lawyers on how to write these documents, there is a unique application of the form in regards to the facts that are required.

Training coaches help lawyers in mastering the concept of legal writing. Once one has undergone the training, their documents can be better understood by experienced readers as they are able to get the right information from them as well as evaluate any cited authorities in the document. A lawyer can therefore learn about the format of citations in line with court rules on how they are supposed to be done.

The process will first start with the lawyer presenting his/her coach with the legal writings he/she has done before. The coach will then review the document while checking out for the style, structure and substance in it. The legal talent of the client is therefore natured once he/she gets to learn the techniques of self-editing.

If you therefore join a coaching program, you may have to submit your project for review. It is after this that the coach will check on the substance of the argument in it as he edits it. Other programs involve the coach editing the whole document first on a line-by-line formula while checking for grammar. They then go ahead and check the tone, logic, structure, tone, integrity, balance and persuasiveness before giving their comments.




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