“Principles of Good Legal Writing”

A 2-day training session designed to help participants produce clear and readable legal documents – documents that are easy to understand, but which cannot be misunderstood. The training session will introduce participants to the tried and tested principles of Plain Language. This will help them prepare clearer letters, contracts, statutes, and other types of legal documents.

Training Session Outline:

Introduction

The problems with legal writing

	The need for clear and readable legal documents
	The objectives of good legal writing

Writing the Document

	The causes of unclear writing
	Achieving clarity in your writing
	Bridging the communication gap
	Breaking old habits
	Numbering paragraphs
	Writing letters, memos, and reports
	Writing contracts and agreements
	Using headings

Organising Your Writing

	Characteristics of your readers Persuading your readers
	Structuring the documents
	The importance of repetition
	The sequence of writing

Creating a Good Image

	The importance of “white space”
	Using paragraphs
	Using headings
	Emphasising important points
	The effect of type-size and page layout on readability Selecting type-size and style

Enquiries and Bookings

By post:

Curwen Consultancy, P O Box 423, HEIDELBERG, 1438, South Africa.

By telephone or Fax:

International: +27 16 3492031.         National: (016) 3492031.

By e-mail:         info@curwen.za.com