Here are a number of good online resources about writing, compiled by Celia C. Elwell, PACE Registered Paralegal--
- Guide to Grammar and Style, Jack Lynch;
- How to Write in Plain English from the Plain English Campaign;
- Online Style Guides from mantex;
- Style and Writing Guides from the Internet Public Library;
- Writing, Grammar and Style Guides from the O'Keefe Library;
- Writing and Research Guides from San Antonio College.
My own contributions to the literature of good writing include the articles "Improve Your Legal Writing with Five Simple Rules," "Five Steps Towards Persuasive Writing," and "First Drafts Made Easy." All were originally published in the Illinois Bar Journal. Other tips can be found in the "Legal Writing" category of this weblog.
Evan, thanks for the great resources. However, what I'd love to see are examples of great legal writing in briefs. Not just serviceable or workmanlike (which is how one of my former bosses complimented my work) but stuff that really stands out.
Carolyn Elefant
Posted by: Carolyn Elefant | July 05, 2006 at 10:23 PM
Carolyn: Good idea. I'll try to do that soon. In the meantime, Garner's "The Winning Brief," which I've written about before, has a lot of real-life examples.
Posted by: Evan | July 06, 2006 at 06:36 AM
You might want to look at the articles written by Kenneth Oettle http://www.sillscummis.com/attorney/attorney.asp?id=95
and Raymond Ward's blog, the (new) legal writer at
http://raymondpward.typepad.com/newlegalwriter/2006/07/bashmans_guide_.html
and these links:
http://www.law.duke.edu/curriculum/appellateadvocacy/guide.html
http://www.ualr.edu/cmbarger/persuasive.html
Like Evan, I also recommend Garner. But I also like Judge Painter's book, "The Legal Writer," and Aldisert's "Winning on Appeal."
Posted by: Celia Elwell | July 11, 2006 at 09:39 AM
If you want to see great legal writing, just go to the U.S. Solicitor General's website (www.usdoj.gov/osg) and start reading. It doesn't get much better than Seth Waxman, Ken Starr, and Ted Olson. It's fun to read their briefs, as they all have unique writing styles. I also suggest reading anything by Miguel Estrada, formerly with OSG and now a partner at a large law firm. When I had unfetted Westlaw access in law school, I'd go to CTA-BRIEFS or SCT-BRIEFS and read everything by Estrada. Also, go to appellate.net and read some of the briefs by partners at Mayer. Whenever I'm writing a brief in an unfamiliar jurisdiction and want to get a "feel" for how things are done, I see whether the lawyers at Mayer filed in a brief in that jurisdiction.
Posted by: Mike | July 18, 2006 at 04:01 PM
Mike: Great comment, thanks.
Posted by: Evan | July 18, 2006 at 05:31 PM