Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles From Maureen B. Collins

Mentoring Writers By Maureen B. Collins September 2004 Column, Page 491 It takes time to train fledgling lawyers to write well. But the time you invest now will pay dividends later.
Order in the Court (and in Your Sentences) By Maureen B. Collins August 2004 Column, Page 435 Don't let convoluted word order tangle your sentences.
Of Pandas and Punctuation By Maureen B. Collins July 2004 Column, Page 371 These books and Web sites make mastering grammar…well, if not fun, at least less painful.
Communicating Change By Maureen B. Collins June 2004 Column, Page 321 Heads out of the sand, you ostriches; confront change directly and talk about it honestly.
Untangle Your Web Site By Maureen B. Collins and Hillary Altekruse Mann April 2004 Column, Page 222 Yes, you really do need a Web site, and these FAQs will help you make the most of it.
Brief-Building: The Finishing Touches By Maureen B. Collins March 2004 Column, Page 153 You've built a well-reasoned, well-argued edifice; don't sabotage your effort by neglecting the final flourishes.
Building a Solid Foundation By Maureen B. Collins February 2004 Column, Page 105 Last month's column looked at the "prep work" necessary for a brief. This month, we focus on the framework.
Constructing an Argument By Maureen B. Collins January 2004 Column, Page 47 Like a house, a brief needs a solid framework, intricate inner workings, and an attractive appearance.
Communicating Your Authority By Maureen B. Collins December 2003 Column, Page 637 Sorry, but proper citation format really does matter. Here's why.
Being Right Versus Saying it Right By Maureen B. Collins November 2003 Column, Page 577 As this cautionary tale illustrates, sometimes what you say to a client is less important than how you say it.
To Speak or Not to Speak? By Maureen B. Collins October 2003 Column, Page 525 Sometimes 'tis nobler in the mind to keep thy mouth shut...
What I Learned from Television By Maureen B. Collins September 2003 Column, Page 471 The observant couch-potato can actually learn a lesson or two from the tube about effective communication.
E-Mail Gone Awry By Maureen B. Collins and Brian O'Donoghue August 2003 Column, Page 413 What can you do when client information ends up in the wrong hands because of a misdirected e-mail? Here are a few tips that just might help lessen the damage.
Back to the Basics of Grammar and Style By Maureen B. Collins February 2003 Column, Page 91 Sexy they're not, but grammatical rules and conventions are too important to ignore.
A Writer's Resolutions for the New Year By Maureen B. Collins January 2003 Column, Page 39 Put your nose on a diet? Tone up your grammar skills? Here's a legal writer's list of New Year's resolutions.
Losing Arguments By Maureen B. Collins December 2002 Column, Page 669 Avoid these rotten eggs masquerading as arguments and put more Xs in your "win" column.
Arguments That Work: Rhetorical Strategies for Argumentation By Maureen B. Collins November 2002 Column, Page 611 After evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your facts and evidence, use one of the rhetorical strategies described here to argue your case.
Communicating with Colleagues By Maureen B. Collins October 2002 Column, Page 555 Attorney-client relationships aren't the only important ones in your professional life. Learn how to talk to your partners, associates and other lawyer-coworkers.
Picky, Picky, Picky: Formatting an Appellate Brief By Maureen B. Collins September 2002 Column, Page 491 Don't try to understand the often picayune rules that govern typefaces, paper color and the like; just learn and follow them.
Defending the Deposition By Maureen B. Collins July 2002 Column, Page 379 Your job is to protect deponents from the undue influence of an overzealous opposing counsel; and from their own confusion and intimidation.
Taking the Deposition (and Getting it Right) By Maureen B. Collins June 2002 Column, Page 323 Remember that the responses you elicit in a deposition are likely to be only as good as the questions you ask.
Preparing to Take a Deposition By Maureen B. Collins May 2002 Column, Page 269 The first of three articles addressing the skills you need to take and defend a deposition.
Incorporating the Standard of Review into Your Appellate Argument By Maureen B. Collins April 2002 Column, Page 209 Here's how to remind the appellate court of its responsibility, and its power, to overturn or uphold the lower court's decision.
Write for Success in Discovery By Maureen B. Collins March 2002 Column, Page 149 Don't underestimate the importance of interrogatories and other forms of written discovery as a way to glean information that can strengthen your case.
To Write or Not to Write: Written and Oral Discovery Compared By Maureen B. Collins February 2002 Column, Page 97 Interrogatories and depositions each have their strengths and weaknesses; here are basic guidelines for deciding when to use which discovery technique.
Protecting Your Communications By Maureen B. Collins January 2002 Column, Page 47 Don't let your brainchildren be like the proverbial cobbler's shoeless kids; lawyer, protect your IP rights.
Communicating Condolences By Maureen B. Collins November 2001 Column, Page 601 Aching to "do something"? Every small act of courtesy and civility helps in the wake of September 11.
A Place for Policy By Maureen B. Collins October 2001 Column, Page 543 If you can persuade the judge that ruling in your client's favor means doing good, you'll probably do well.
Writing Like a Lawyer Means Thinking Like a Lawyer By Maureen B. Collins September 2001 Column, Page 493 A new book makes legal analysis as simple as one-two-three.
A Punctuation Primer By Maureen B. Collins August 2001 Column, Page 433 It isn't too late to learn the all-but-lost art of proper punctuation.
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