In fact, plain English principles have been incorporated into the writing … The third edition of the book includes new chapters on email and use of the internet. What annoys plain language advocates is some lawyers’ insistence that the archaic, duplicative and sometimes incoherent 18th century precedents are more ‘certain’ than text that says what it means. Have you bought the title yet? Professor Kimble names Michele Asprey’s book Plain Language for Lawyers as one of the top publications in the history of plain language. I am a law student and english is not my first language. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. If this book is too complex, I recommend the book, Punctuation Plain and Simple, both books are almost matching in explanations verbatim except the latter uses even simpler language. Carolina Academic Press; 5th edition (July 30, 2005). Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2018, Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2020. The shift toward plain language in the law has already begun. In Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please - The Case for Plain Language in Business, Government, and Law … The sixth edition, now co-authored by Amy Sloan, updates this classic text, … Flesch’s How to Write Plain English: A Book for Lawyers and Consumers and Richard Wydick’s Plain Language for Lawyers came on stream in 1979 and were welcome resources. The idea that lawyers can – and should – write in plain language is not new. State your major point(s) first before … Legal affectations and other nasty habits. Chapter 4, Plain Language Around the World, completely updated, showing how plain language has become the international standard for good legal writing. Plain language is clear, concise, organized, and appropriate for the intended audience. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. On a more practical level, Richard Wydick's Plain English for Lawyers has been widely used to teach law students the art of legal writing. He wrote in the short sentences and plain language. Please try again. In the United States, the movement towards plain language legal writing began with the 1963 book Language of the Law, by David Mellinkoff. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. I have found this book to be invaluable and extremely well written. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work. These and similar problems are covered in the chapter Little words: big problems. … Asprey arranges the book into 18 short, accessible chapters, cleverly anticipating readers’ common questions and concerns and ultimately proving that she knows her audience well, making a seemingly “tough sell” with ease, style and finesse. Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019, As a person who has a Master’s degree in Law Studies, I love the way the book breaks down legalese into plain English. … Asprey presents a convincing case for simplicity. The ease of use, as well as the extremely well-written and informative content, makes it one of my go-to manuals for all my writing assignments. Search ABA. I hope all law schools would use or at least recommend this to students. This book was meant as a gift and it was received with great enthusiasm. This bar-code number lets you verify that you're getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Legal Language, Peter Tiersma, 1999 13. There have always been plain language lawyers. A detailed index and links to further research (in footnotes that do not daunt the eye) are other hallmarks. All cases, legislation and text references have been updated to 2009, Recent international developments in plain language are included, Chapter 12, on the principles of legal interpretation, has been completely rewritten to cover the latest case law, Chapter 13, the plain language vocabulary, has been extended, Chapter 14, on email and the internet, has been updated, and includes the latest on defamation law, Chapter 15 and 16, which cover document design for both print and the computer screen, have both been revised to include the latest research findings on typography, and the way we read and comprehend on-line material. Clear and precise language, organization, design and layout are important. This book is very easy to read. Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2018. Published in The Clarity Journal 81 - 2020. There's a problem loading this menu right now. It’s still the best seller of the Carolina Academic Press. The guiding principle of contra proferentem has long been applied in Canadian law. There should be no need to "hide" behind the traditional "Blah...Blah...Blah". Plain Language for Lawyers can help. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Wydick's Plain English for Lawyers--now in its fifth edition--has been a favorite of law students, legal writing teachers, lawyers, and judges for over 25 years. Plain language is an … Exactly what was needed! Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Plain language has been taught in law schools in Australia for almost 20 years. Simple, straight forward writing is the best practice. …. Introduction This article discusses how plain language in Australian family law … March 1, 2010. Seven years have passed since the publication of the 2nd edition of Plain Language for Lawyers. It’s also the law. There just aren’t enough of them. Old fashioned ideas about layering legal writing with heavy wordage is starting to become more enlightened. What about the principles of legal interpretation? Having convinced the reader that plain language is not only an option in drafting, but the only responsible option, Asprey then proceeds to dissect bad drafting habits and propose solutions. Asprey outlines the considerable cost savings experienced by companies and governments when they have designed contracts and forms that can be easily and widely understood. I read all of them. “Plain language,” also known sometimes as “plain English,” is writing in a way that helps readers understand the content in a document the first time they read it. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. This is a nice book to use as a refresher on the important elements of good legal writing. 416.862.9236 (fax). Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. by Mark Biss. Each new edition bring the better out of the author, aims more dirctly at the reader, and hits bull’s eye. It covers all aspects of good legal writing. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Now, more than ever, it is time for Plain Language for Lawyers. Legal Drafting in Plain Language, R. Dick, 1995 12. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. The plain language movement in Australia has been with us for decades. Suggest guidelines for choosing words. She argues that it is not only economically sensible but legally responsible to abandon archaic drafting habits and embrace plain language in drafting. … [her book] is an invaluable resource with which to persuade colleagues to give up bad writing habits. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2017, Very good book. Plain Language for Lawyers … The talk inspired me to read judgements and books of Lord Denning. Two wonderful chapters discuss legal affectations and problem words (and, and/or, shall). The law requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Michèle Asprey takes her readers by the hand and leads them gently through the evidence supporting the need to write in terms that the intended reader can understand. Offer concrete techniques for clarifying text. By 1991, eight states had passed statutes encouraging plain language.For example, Pennsylvania passed the Plain Language Consumer Contract Act in 1993 requiring lenders, retailers and landlords to redraft … We believe that using plain language … I was particularly intrigued by the discussion linking plain language writing to legal interpretation. The author has interspersed her technical knowledge with humour, common sense and wide and relevant research. Plain English for Lawyers is a awesome book that can be understood at most levels in education. An expanded version of Chapter 4 – Plain Language Around the World is available in electronic format, for purchase as a stand-alone 100 page work. Write for your reader, not yourself. 14 September 2020. The book now covers the significant developments in plain language and the law … Plain language avoids verbosity, pretentious language, and tortuous sentence structures.