Subject Index Legal Writing

Bit by the Grammar Bug?

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
February
2024
Column
, Page 46
Remedies for 12 common grammar infirmities.

Bene Vale Dicere Latine

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
November
2023
Column
, Page 44
Perhaps it’s time to bury Latin phrases for good, at least in public.

Writing Matters

By Ed Finkel
November
2023
Cover Story
, Page 22
Lawyers and jurists on the art of writing well.

Chat Not

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
August
2023
Column
, Page 46
AI chatbots and legal writing.

When Not to Bypass Passive Voice

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
May
2023
Column
, Page 44
The passive tense is not always an abomination.

Contracts: Avoiding Drafting Pitfalls

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
February
2023
Column
, Page 48
Good contracts should be in plain English and clear.

A Few Notions on Drafting Motions

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
November
2022
Column
, Page 46
Five tips for writing a motion designed to persuade a judge, who may only read it once.

Thoughts on Credibility

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
August
2022
Column
, Page 42
How your legal writing affects your credibility and reputation.
1 comment (Most recent August 2, 2022)

Anticipatory Edits

By Patrick Barry
May
2022
Article
, Page 36
Anticipating how your “boss” edits is perhaps the most important writing skill you can learn.

Some Facts About Writing the Facts

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
May
2022
Column
, Page 44
When writing, get the facts right.

Notes About Quotes

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2022
Column
, Page 46
Use quotations to serve your writing, not the other way around.

Kleiser’s Rules for Legal Advocacy

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
December
2021
Column
, Page 40
A 110-year-old book on advocating and winning still speaks to attorneys today.

Proofreading Pointers

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
September
2021
Column
, Page 44
Tips and a checklist for proofreaders. Plus, can you spot the intentional typos in this column?

Revising: An Exquisite Pleasure of Writing

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
June
2021
Column
, Page 40
A thorough checklist for revising thoroughly.

Better Self-Editing Through Technology

May
2021
Article
, Page 20
Helpful Microsoft Word add-ins that will make you a better writer.

First Drafts

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2021
Column
, Page 46
Get them done. Give them room to breathe. Then, edit away after a fresh look.

Inciteful Citations

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
December
2020
Column
, Page 40
Getting serious about the authorities you use in your legal writing.

Surefire Sapphires

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
September
2020
Column
, Page 48
Writing wisdom from the late William Safire.

Write for the Target Reader

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
June
2020
Column
, Page 42
Writing for one can help even when you’re writing for many.

Fictional Hymanizations

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2020
Column
, Page 50
Justice Hyman partakes in inspirational embellishment for the greater good.

Women Shouldn’t Pay Taxes and Can’t Commit Crimes?

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
December
2019
Column
, Page 48
Susan B. Anthony was right, of course. The words we choose matter.

Words of Wisdom on Writing

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
September
2019
Column
, Page 45
Gems from the files of Justice Hyman.

75 Ways to Make Your Writing Ineffective

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
June
2019
Column
, Page 44
If you want to write well, don't do anything listed in this column.
1 comment (Most recent May 23, 2019)

Hemingway’s Way

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2019
Column
, Page 46
We can learn much from Hemingway's sparse, crisp prose, which did not come naturally to him either.

Comma-On

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
December
2018
Column
, Page 46
A tribute to the importance and power of the Oxford comma.

Go Easy on the Legalese

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
September
2018
Column
, Page 44
Precise and substantive legal prose does not require Latin or antiquated words. Practice eliminating them from your writing.
2 comments (Most recent September 8, 2018)

The Folly of Overemphasizing Emphasis

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
June
2018
Column
, Page 44
A judge quashes all that is bolded, underlined, and ALL CAPPED.

Down with Footnotes

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2018
Column
, Page 52
Any point worth making belongs in the text, not a footnote.

From the Newsletters - Omit that Oxford comma at your peril

July
2017
Article
, Page 47
Confusion caused by an omitted comma led to a huge judgment against a Maine employer. What do Illinois drafting guidelines say about Oxford commas?
1 comment (Most recent July 17, 2017)

Illinois Supreme Court Rule Changes: The Year So Far

By Michele M. Jochner
October
2011
Article
, Page 520
From new IOLTA rules to a new official citation system, a range of important supreme court rule changes took effect from January through September of 2011.

Select a Different Subject