Jargon Buster

Legal Writing

"Legal writing is different from normal writing....People can understand normal writing!"

The Ten Principles of Legal Writing

1. Never formulate one principle where you can list ten.
   
   
2. Never use a small word where a big sizeable one will suffice.
   
   
3. Never make a simple statement where it appears on balance that one which is of a higher degree of complexity will obtain a substantively similar effect.
   
   
4. Never use English where, inter alia, latin or mutatis mutandis will do.
   
   
5. Qualify almost everything!
   
   
6. Do not be afraid of repeating yourself.
   
   
7. The sky is never blue. In some parts of the world, at certain times of the day and in favourable climatic conditions, the sky generally appears to be a shade of blue.
   
   
8. To draft a legal document first describe in normal language whatever it is your client wants to do then lengthen it by defining everything and qualifying it by reference to an attachment to an exhibit to an appendix with cross references to documents not included Oh and dont forget never put any punctuation in it it only confuses things
   
   
9. Do not be afraid of repeating yourself.
   
   
10. If your client can read the finished document from beginning to end without falling asleep, try harder next time!