What I wish I had known about legal writing--part 1
1. I wish I had known that law was a writing profession.
I came to law school thinking law practice was an oral profession. I pictured myself in court, making an argument to the jury or to the judge. I pictured myself seated across the table from another lawyer, negotiating a deal. I pictured myself in my office, meeting with a client to give advice. Sure, lawyers do those things. But mostly, they write.
Lawyers are professional writers. They get paid to produce quality written work that is subjected to serious scrutiny. I wish I had known that.
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Wayne Schiess, author of Preparing Legal Documents Nonlawyers Can Read and Understand
I came to law school thinking law practice was an oral profession. I pictured myself in court, making an argument to the jury or to the judge. I pictured myself seated across the table from another lawyer, negotiating a deal. I pictured myself in my office, meeting with a client to give advice. Sure, lawyers do those things. But mostly, they write.
Lawyers are professional writers. They get paid to produce quality written work that is subjected to serious scrutiny. I wish I had known that.
________
Wayne Schiess, author of Preparing Legal Documents Nonlawyers Can Read and Understand
I just wrote about this topic the other day. Clarence Darrow is dead, and so is your client if you leave written advocacy to the baby lawyers. http://www.appellaterecord.com/2010/03/articles/appellate-practice-1/what-is-an-appellate-lawyer/
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