#17 Why Do Lawyers Need a Good Vocabulary?
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Why do lawyers need a good vocabulary? And how can you build a good vocabulary?
Other articles on this site explain generally how to build your vocabulary. The site's Better English Blog also contains some ideas on why it is important to have a good vocabulary. Here are some reasons why lawyers, in particular, need a good vocabulary. Fundamentally, a good vocabulary can give you a better chance at winning more cases. (See also “Why is Writing Style Important for Lawyers?”).
First, a good vocabulary helps you find the simplest word that conveys your meaning most exactly. This gives your writing power and precision (see, for example, Neil James, Writing at Work: How to Write Clearly, Effectively and Professionally
(2007) 190).
Second, a good vocabulary helps you adapt your style to the style of the person you want to persuade. This is important because in persuasive communication, such as writing a persuasive trial brief, you should always speak the other person’s language (see, for example, Harry Mills, Artful Persuasion: How to Command Attention, Change Minds, and Influence People (1999)).
Third, a good vocabulary boosts your credibility by showing your intelligence through articulate language. In Advanced Legal Writing: Theories and Strategies in Persuasive Writing (2002), Michael R Smith (at 164) explains that a trait of an intelligent legal writer is that the writer is articulate: "A poor writer has very little credibility in the eyes of a reader."
Fourth, a good vocabulary helps you reduce spelling errors. Smith explains (at 169):
- “Errors of this nature send a message to a reader that the writer is not careful, precise, and detail-oriented. Consequently, such errors cause a reader to lose confidence in the writer as an intelligent and capable source of information.”
Fifth, a good vocabulary equips you to easily express complicated ideas. According to Smith at 164:
- “The writers who are most successful at gaining the confidence of their readers are those who can communicate complicated legal concepts in a clear and understandable way.”
As well as helping you write persuasive arguments, building your vocabulary can help lawyers in other ways. For example, a good vocabulary—
- improves your reading and comprehension skills — no more missing the judge’s point because you don't understand their language; you'll be able to understand the words and concepts in the cases you read
- helps you find the information you are looking for — when you research the law, you often must generate a list of keywords or search terms that indexes and other finding aids use; the more words you can think of, the better your chances of finding the answers to your problem
- grows your confidence during oral argument — no more stuttering and fumbling for the right word
- improves opportunities for promotion and career progression; studies show that a good vocabulary is a strong predictor of career success
How vocabulary-building software can help
There are several benefits of vocabulary software that conventional methods of instruction cannot offer, including advantages of speed, cost, and convenience. Such software use proven instructional techniques that are known to increase a person's vocabulary. If you are considering increasing your vocabulary, then go to Ultimate Vocabulary to order and download Ultimate Vocabulary. All orders come with a 90-day trial.