PRINCIPLES OF LEGAL WRITING

 
1. Purpose -make sure you have a purpose
2. Elaboration Make sentences with clear connection so that the reader will understand
your point
3. Emphasis -start with familiar position and in the end introduce new and complicated
position; part where you already cite cases which are related with your case, this is if you
try to prove that client is not guilty of murder then you emphasize. 
4. Use fewer words 
5. Clarity 
*Place the conclusion first, this is for memoranda not complaint 
*Know how to choose citations
-read the case first before citing
-citations would definitely support your case at hand 
*Passive voice and Active voice 

A good legal writing should know the difference between legal english 

General English- when you write about your own ideas, observations, or stories, you do not
state legal obligations in general english 
Legal Writing- writing about the legal, legal obligations, and state facts; legal writing is sending
to your readers, reader must understand objective, if you need to persuade readers regarding
legal rights, then that is the objective 

*decide the object of your document 

Introduction must be short and simple that it can be understood by a normal person; cite
certain quotes or a phrase about a decided case
-make sure that the facts of the case are arranged chronologically
-you have to relate the facts in such a way that reader and judge can already make notes on
how he can decide it
-the first incident must go first followed by the second incident
-legal terminologies must also be researched; you must know about these terminologies
-possible audience for plaintiff: defendant and court
-possible audience for defendant: plaintiff and court 
*create doubt on his legal standing when you filed a case

Short sentence, paragraphs, and heading 

-do not make very long sentences in one paragraph, make it short but the message is relayed
-make sure you read what you wrote 

In General English, you cannot start with but or however

In Legal English, you can start with “but” or “however”
Whereas, premises considered-legal English 
Stages of Legal Writing 
1. Prewriting Stage
-review your assignment to make sure your task is clearly understood
-identify the constraints (after identifying constraints ex. Perjury when you tell a lie in a
public document (notary)
-organization of the assignment (try to write your outline chronologically)
-outline what are the related jurisprudence 
(try to make research on cases where perjury was dismissed because that will complete
the outline) *facts, jurisprudence, make an outline 

2. Writing Stage
-expanded outline
3. Post writing Stage 

*Assignment before we start the class 

-make a comment on that document

IMPORTANT LINKS USED IN CLASS

http://www.delmarlearning.com/companions/content/0766854558/resources/chapter15.asp?
fbclid=IwAR3wbaa_ZMiUOEgm0s8g8czKJPvI77dXqQBW-Dt6zmenjCvJluTZKZifWfc

http://www.mabgslaw.com.ph/site/article/hallmarks-of-good-legal-writing?fbclid=IwAR2Ey-
umyVa57wP9YgSfXPpTaU8eD8ryde9X1fRjsrx8kUP2BG9v82tCkuQ

https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/principles-of-legal-writing--4159.asp?
fbclid=IwAR3b-YdQbC85ajMKjYE6F-BZZtdWYYzX2M_mzhA8rL0ahARFlm59ilFLqio