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Articles on Legal Writing
Why Brief Writing is Like Ice Hockey
By Lisa J. Freedman
August
2000
Column
Page 477
Find out what the best appellate lawyers and the Great Gretzky have in common.
An Editing Checklist
By Maureen B. Collins
July
2000
Column
Page 415
Learning to be your own editor is an important but challenging job. This checklist can help you revise your own work.
A Legal Writer’s Bookshelf
By Maureen B. Collins
June
2000
Column
Page 359
Been a while since you sharpened your writer's saw? These books can help.
Lawyer as Storyteller
By Maureen B. Collins
May
2000
Column
Page 289
To be truly persuasive, don't just write a brief; tell a story.
Electronic Briefs: The Time Has Come
By Todd H. Flaming
April
2000
Column
Page 233
Here's how to create an electronic brief that includes exhibits, signed documents; everything you'd include in a paper version. For an example, see /ibj/apr00lj/ebrief.pdf.
Recommendations for Rookie Writers
By Maureen B. Collins
April
2000
Column
Page 237
Okay, you've got a real job now; how do you transfer your writing skills from the classroom to the real world of lawyering? Here are some tips.
Drafting with Style
By Maureen B. Collins
March
2000
Column
Page 173
In the last two columns we looked at the drafting process and component parts of transaction documents.
Drafting Transaction Documents: The Pieces of the Puzzle
By Maureen B. Collins
February
2000
Column
Page 110
Assemble the standard provisions and create the picture of a well-done deal.
The Lawyer’s Journal
By Bonnie McGrath
February
2000
Column
Page 62
Banks and title insurance; fees for foiled FOIA requests; crafting affirmative action plans; and more.
Creating a Document to Meet Your Client’s Needs
By Maureen B. Collins
January
2000
Column
Page 47
Drafting a seaworthy document requires more than pasting form provisions into place; you have to learn the facts and the law.
Uncomplicating the Citation Process
By Andrea Kaufman
December
1999
Column
Page 675
Move over Bluebook; a soon-to-be-released citation manual provides much clearer answers with many fewer words.
How to Read a Writing Sample
By Maureen Beth Beazley
November
1999
Column
Page 615
You don't have to read every word of a writing sample to assess its quality. Here's what to look for.
Getting the Legal Writing Sample You Need
By Mary Beth Beazley
October
1999
Column
Page 557
Last month's column urged employers to assess the writing skills of prospective hires; this month, learn how to get the writing sample you need.
Hiring Good Writers
By Maureen B. Collins
September
1999
Column
Page 499
Here's how to screen prospective hires for good legal writing skills.
The Law in Film: Images of the Literary Lawyer
By Mark Sanders
August
1999
Column
Page 441
If you don't have time to read as much as you'd like, consider viewing a movie based on a good book about the law.
Training Associates: The Write Stuff
By Lisa J. Freedman
July
1999
Column
Page 385
Taking time to help associates to write better will pay in the long run.
Politically Correct Speech: Readers Respond
By Maureen B. Collins
June
1999
Column
Page 335
Professor Collins touched a nerve with last month's column. Here are some of your responses and her reactions to them.
Writing with Your Audience in Mind
By Maureen B. Collins
May
1999
Column
Page 285
Give your audience what it wants; first, though, figure out who your audience is.
Politically Correct Speech: A Call for Common Sense
By Maureen B. Collins
April
1999
Column
Page 223
When does a word mean what it means rather than what people hear it to mean?
Finding and Citing Law in the Information Age
By Timothy L. Bertschy
March
1999
Column
Page 124
One of the fundamental tasks of a lawyer is to find the law and communicate that authority to others.
Saying What You Mean: the Sequel
By Maureen B. Collins
March
1999
Column
Page 171
Attorneys are not above the laws of good marketing; ignore them at your peril.
Law and Literature: Resources for Illinois Attorneys and Law Students
By Mark Sanders
February
1999
Column
Page 109
Great literature, like great lawyering, responds to and reflects the human condition.
Explaining Yourself
By Benjamin Goldgar
January
1999
Column
Page 54
You don't need to write "persuasively''; simply explain and the persuasion will take care of itself.
Saying What You Mean: A Mini-Usage Guide
By Maureen B. Collins
December
1998
Column
Page 699
The difference between the right word and the wrong word is the difference between ... regardless and irregardless.
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