Write plain legal language

News: Persuasive legal writing Master Class, Hong Kong, 24 April 2008. Seats limited. Book now. Read more ...

Free online resources

1. Australia

• Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel, plain language links
• Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel on Drafting Legislation, Plain English Manual (pdf, 287 kb; 40-page guide on drafting legislation that includes good general advice on plain English)
• Law and Justice Foundation of NSW (Australia), Writing in Plain Language (includes free plain legal language newsletter)
• Troy Simpson, 'Legal Writing Style: Tips for Writing Persuasively'

2. Ireland

• National Adult Literacy Agency, A Plain English Guide to Legal Terms (60 pages, 1400 words explained, download as free pdf)

3. UK

• Clarity International (includes free html and pdf articles and links to seminars and books)
• Plain English Campaign, law page (includes free pdf guides)
• Scottish Executive, Plain Language and Legislation Booklet (lets you download a free pdf booklet on plain language, especially in legisation)

4. USA

• American Society of Legal Writers, The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing (excellent journal)
• Bryan A Garner, Exercises from Legal Writing in Plain English (50 free exercises on writing plain legal language)
• Indiana University School of Law, How to Write Good Legal Stuff (short html guide on good legal writing)
• State Bar of Michigan, Chronological Index of Columns (free articles on plain legal language that appeared in the Michigan Bar Journal)
• Mississippi Bar Association, Guide to Legalese (defines legal terms)
• Raymond P Ward, The Legal Writer ("a collection of resources for lawyers, who write")
• Dave Sandeep, Plain Language in Law (lists resources on plain legal language)
• Eugene Volokh, Eschew, Evade, and/or Eradicate Legalese (a short list of wordy legal phrases and their simpler alternatives)