Building Rapport

March 19, 2010

Pennsylvania Lawyers Sponsor Student Writing Contest

Pennsylvania Bar Association Plain English Writing Competition

Setting an example for other law schools and state bars, Pennsylvania launches a contest in plain language:

The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Plain English Committee is inviting students to take part in its Plain English Writing Competition. The Competition is open to all current law students in Pennsylvania law schools and all Pennsylvania students at other law schools in the United States.

To participate in the competition, the students must redraft the client opinion letter (click on pictures at link below) in plain English

so that it will be comprehensible to the client.

The competition rewards the winners with prize money: $1000 for first prize, $500 for second prize. Deadline: We must receive your application by noon, Thursday, April 8, 2010.

For the contest entry go to http://tourolawoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/pennsylvania-bar-association-plain.html

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March 17, 2010

US Law on Plain Language Closer to Reality

Houses passes bill; Senate vote the next hurdle

Washington, DC – As part of Sunshine Week, the House today passed Rep. Bruce Braley’s (D-Iowa) Plain Language Act (HR 946), which will require the federal government to write new documents in simple, easy-to-understand language. The bill passed the House by a widely bipartisan margin of 386-33. Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

“There is no reason why the federal government can’t write these forms and other public documents in a way we can all understand,” Braley said. “Plain, straightforward language makes it easy for taxpayers to understand what the federal government is doing and what services it is offering.

“This bill shows what bipartisanship can accomplish when we put aside our differences and work together for the common good.”

The Plain Language Act requires the federal government to write all new publications, forms, and publicly distributed documents in a “clear, concise, well-organized” manner that follows the best practices of plain language writing. The Senate must now act.

Examples of Plain Language in Use: Before and After

Here are three before-and-after examples of how plain language was applied to federal documents to make them easier to understand. For more examples, seehttp://www.facebook.com/l/dd236;www.plainlanguage.gov.

Example #1: Medicare Fraud Letter (click link)

http://www.facebook.com/l/dd236;www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/medicarefraudltr.cfm

Example #2: FDA drug warning label (click link)

http://www.facebook.com/l/dd236;www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/overctrdrug.pdf

Example #3: IRS form (click links)

Before: http://www.facebook.com/l/dd236;www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/CP2000_before.pdf

After: http://www.facebook.com/l/dd236;www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/CP2000_after.pdf