Plain Language for Lawyers

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Book Description
Plain language communication has become widely accepted in the past decade as an essential skill of the successful modern lawyer. Most lawyers try: the question remains how many of them really succeed. Governments and courts have been forcing the issue. New laws continue to be passed requiring documents to be written in language that is “easy to understand”, “intelligible”, “comprehensible” or “expressed plainly”, or requiring “plain language” or “plain English”. At the same time, modern case law is highlighting the risks for banks, and others who continue to use documents that cannot easily be understood. Asprey’s book has established itself as the best explanation of the subject for both lawyers and students. It is clear and easy to read: a great example of the art of plain language. The 3rd edition is a comprehensive revision and update. It covers the significant developments in plain language and the law since 1996. It includes two new chapters, one on writing email and for the internet, and the other on designing documents for the computer screen. Chapter 3 (why plain language?) has been expanded and divided into two chapters: Chapter 3 – why plain language? And Chapter 4 – Plain language around the world, reflecting the many developments in plain language in Australia and on the international scene.
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Contents
1.    What is this book about?
2.    What is plain language?
3.    What plain language?
4.    Plain language around the world
5.    Fundamentals
6.    Structure
7.    Words
8.    Grammatical structures to avoid
9.    Legal affectations and other nasty habits
10.  Overused words and formulas
11.  Little words: big problems
12.  What about the rules of legal interpretation?
13.  A plain language vocabulary
14.  Email and the internet
15.  Document design basics
16.  Designing documents for the computer screen
17.  Testing your writing
18.  Any questions?
Index
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