Legal Writing
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In-House Counsel, Litigators
The Recurring Error: From First-Year Law Student Through Retirement
Two important pieces of advice about legal writing, from in-house columnist Mark Herrmann. -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 08.20.15
* You’ve heard about what it’s like to be a Supreme Court clerk, but we bet you’ve never heard about what it’s like to be a Supreme Court intern. It’s apparently the “opportunity of a lifetime” to do errands and prepare lunch and meals for Justice Sonia Sotomayor. [Supreme Court Brief]
* If you’re trying to file an effective brief with the Supreme Court, it’s best to write in “relatively short sentences, with a non-confrontational tone.” In other words, you really shouldn’t be trying to emulate Justice Scalia’s “jiggery-pokery” flair. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA]
* Wachtell Lipton may interested in going “big brother” on its associates, but when it comes to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the firm wants to steer clear of such voyeurism by doing away with clients’ quarterly reports. [Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)]
* This judge didn’t play “just the tip” when it came to piercing his corporate veil: Paul Hansmeier of copyright-troll firm Prenda Law must pay sanctions to the tune of $64,000 after he drained cash from another one of his firms and then dissolved it. [Ars Technica]
* Texas Tech Law is introducing a “brain-training” seminar for its first-year law students that will “maximize their brains’ performance.” One wonders if they took such a course before law school if they’d be enrolled in the same place. [Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]
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Learn how emerging tools will likely change and enhance the work of lawyers for years to come in this new report. -
Technology
The Importance Of Having A Technically Perfect Document
Technology columnist Jeff Bennion identifies a helpful resource for improving your legal writing.
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Screw-Ups, Social Media, Social Networking Websites
A Bluebooking Error In... The Bluebook?
Please, pass this former law school gunner his smelling salts! -
In-House Counsel, Litigators
Easy Writer (Or: An Analogue To Pile-O'-Crap Syndrome)
Many court rules are designed largely to hedge against inept litigators heaping piles o’ crap on the court, according to veteran litigator Mark Herrmann. -
Screw-Ups, Technology
Practice Pointer: Don't Let Your iPhone Spellcheck Your Brief
Check out this error, which is both entertaining and educational. -
In-House Counsel, Litigators
A 16-Page Brief And A 15-Page Limit
What's the magic to making briefs fit page limits? Veteran litigator Mark Herrmann shares some tips. -
Career Center, Career Files, Lawyers
From The Career Files: LawProse -- Whether 'Whether' Causes Problems For Legal Writers
Yes, it does—in four ways... - Sponsored
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Career Center, Career Files, Lawyers
From The Career Files: LawProse Lesson – What’s The Easiest Way To Improve Most Transactional Drafting?
Rigorously impose a consistent numbering system, create more headings, and banish romanettes. Use a cascading left-hand indent... -
In-House Counsel, Job Searches
On Bragging Effectively (In Résumés And Briefs)
Wise advice from in-house columnist Mark Herrmann that's relevant to both résumé writing and brief writing. -
8th Circuit, Benchslaps, Federal Judges, Litigators, Quote of the Day
Benchslap Of The Day: Hot Stuff Gets A Sick Burn
A lesson in what NOT to do when filing a reply brief. -
In-House Counsel, Litigators
Abbrev's For Idio's (Or, 3 Tips For Effective Communication)
In-house columnist Mark Herrmann offers three lessons about communication. -
Books, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Law Professors, Law Reviews, Law Schools
Is The Bluebook About To Be Killed Off?
What kind of silver bullet could kill this venerable institution?
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
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Books, In-House Counsel, Litigators
Proof That The Internet Did Not Destroy The Ability To Write
What is the secret to good writing? -
Books, Deaths, Law Schools, Suicide
On The Anniversary Of His Death: Why Lawyers Love David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace captured the vices and virtues of a certain type of reader, a certain type of writer, a certain type of mind. -
English Grammar and Usage, Small Law Firms, Solo Practitioners
What Is The Most Important Element Of Legal Analysis?
Did you agree with the survey or did you pick a different element? -
Alex Kozinski, Antonin Scalia, English Grammar and Usage, Federal Judges, Law Professors, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Westlaw
Black's Law Dictionary: An Interview with Bryan A. Garner
David Lat interviews Professor Bryan A. Garner about the newest edition of Black's Law Dictionary. -
Books, In-House Counsel, Litigators
Expose Your Weakness -- Now!
How readable is your writing? In-house columnist Mark Herrmann tells you how to find out. -
Benchslaps, D.C. Circuit, Federal Judges, Laurence Silberman, Litigators, Litigatrix, Quote of the Day
Benchslap Of The Day: The D.C. Circuit Calls Out A Top Law School Professor
Which professor got publicly reprimanded, and why? -
In-House Counsel, Law Professors, Law Schools
On Legal Writing: Teaching The Rules, Or Teaching The Exceptions?
In-house columnist Mark Herrmann offers some thoughts on how to teach legal writing.