10 January 2009
Them’s legal words!
If one were to distil what we do down to the very core, one can say that, ultimately, all lawyers do is work with words.
Whether it’s drafting a contract to outline the rights of the parties concerned, or arguing about the meaning of a phrase in the Constitution before the High Court, everything in we do in the legal word comes down, essentially, to words.
And knowing about words and how to use them is one of the most basic skills a lawyer needs. Because if rights are not outlined properly (or clearly enough) in a contract, the parties to that contract will be in big trouble. While the litigators who have clean up the mess might be glad to have more work, the lawyer responsible will have egg on his or her face.
It may seem pedantic but grammar, proofreading, writing with clarity matters, and, in some cases, may be the difference between a good lawyer and a great one; or, for grad lawyers: a promotion or a pink slip.
This applies just as much to law students as it does to young practitioners — it’s a given that a well-written essay or exam answer, which doesn’t have blatant spelling errors and outlines the relevant point clearly and succinctly, will help you get better grades than sloppy, mistake-ridden drivel even if the question is answered correctly.
And so, on that basis, Green Grads is introducing a new section on legal writing.
We aim to cover basics such as grammar and proofreading skills, but please let us know if there’s anything you want us to discuss.
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