Thinking Like a Writer: A Lawyer's Guide to Effective Writing and Editing

by Stephen V. Armstrong, Timothy Terrell, Jarrod F. Reich

Remain ever current and ensure that you have the most updated version of this publication by visiting PLI.edu . Thinking Like a Writer provides practical advice to help lawyers strengthen their writing skills by “thinking like a writer” as effectively as they already think like a lawyer. The book highlights guiding principles for writing clearly about complicated material and establishing credibility with demanding readers, and then turns those principles into specific techniques that apply to many types of documents and audiences. Part I introduces the approach and principles that can guide lawyers in “thinking like a writer.” Part II applies the guiding principles to a document’s organization, while Part III applies them to specific types of legal letters, memoranda, and emails; briefs; and judicial opinions. Part IV applies the principles to the smaller scale of paragraphs and sentences. Finally, Part V applies the principles to the editing process, for both self-editing and editing the work of others. Throughout, chapters include many before-and-after examples to demonstrate how writing and editing can be improved by following the advice offered in the book.

Genres: Law, Writing

524 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tips were pretty good. And it's very hard to teach micro-level writing.

The problem is that all the examples are like big blockquotes, which, as the book itself explains, people are preidsposed to skip.

This would be a great class, but it's a pretty good book.

[Klaire Hoang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like heaven. If I could give it 10 stars, I absolutely would. Omg

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - one of the best of its kind.