Of course, I like to recommend my own book Plain Language Legal Writing, but here are some of my other recommendations from an older list.

If you can recommend some more recent works that focus on legal writing AND plain language, please do it in the comments.

Child’s Drafting Legal Documents, 2d (American Casebook Series®)
by: Barbara Child

The Lawyer’s Guide to Writing Well, Second Edition
by: Tom Goldstein, Jethro K. Lieberman

The Little Book on Legal Writing
by: Alan L. Dworsky

Guide to Legal Writing Style
by: Terri Leclercq

Modern Legal Drafting: A Guide to Using Clearer Language (Cambridge Studies in Law and Society)
by: Peter Butt, Richard Castle

Clear understandings: A guide to legal writing
by: Ronald L Goldfarb

Plain Language Pleadings
by: Carol Ann Wilson

Mightier Than the Sword: Powerful Writing in the Legal Profession/Legal
by: C. Edward Good

How to Write Plain English: A Book for Lawyers and Consumers : With 60 Before-And-After Translations from Legalese
by: Rudolf Franz Flesch

Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text With Exercises
by: Bryan A. Garner

Practical Legal Writing for Legal Assistants
by: Celia Elwell, Robert Smith

Plain Language Legal Writing
Cheryl Stephens, Author

Kindle Version

Introduction: What is plain language?.

The Benefits of Plain Language

Part 1.

Writing as a Communication Process.

Legalese and Gobbledygook.

The Writing Process.

Revision and Reorganization.

Chapter One.  Plan, Research, and Prepare.

Chapter Two. Tailor the Writing to the Reader.

Chapter Three. Organize Both Content and Structure.

Chapter Four.  Edit, Peer-edit, and Test.

Part 2.  Writing to Be Understood.

Chapter Five.  Choose Your Words Wisely.

Chapter Six.  Features of Poor Legal Style.

Chapter Seven. Write Effective Sentences.

Chapter Eight.  Design Paragraphs That Work.

Part 3.  Practical applications.

Chapter Nine.  Modern Legal Correspondence.

Chapter Ten. Legal Memoranda and Letter Opinions.

Chapter Eleven. Guidelines for Visual Presentation.

Part 4 Resources.Plain Language Legal Writing“>

Plain Language Pleadings

Carol Ann Wilson, author

Plain Language Pleadings

ISBN 0-13-199639-8

This is a book for lawyers and anyone who drafts documents for lawyers, but particularly legal assistants/paralegals and legal secretaries.

I would describe it as a professional guide; Prentice Hall considers it a textbook. There are tools included: samples, forms, and checklists. There is a review of grammar rules and advice from experts.

This is the only book devoted to lawyers’ assistants who draft documents. It provides arguments that can be used to convince those lawyers to use plain language instead of legalese.

I will be posting information on the books currently available to you. The first set will be books on legal writing.

Christine Mowat, author

Newsletter

William DuBay’s latest newsletter focuses on “listenability” and is available at http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/newsletter/plwork41.htm

Bill’s list of online news

Innumeracy and the mortgage crisis: http://tinyurl.com/28zc99u

Reading skills in Australia: http://tinyurl.com/23h5nx6

The power of plain English: http://tinyurl.com/2dltx3k

Clear content boosts sales: http://tinyurl.com/2cscoes

Neil James’ plea for plain English: http://tinyurl.com/26zbtzk

Plain English for entrepeneurs: http://tinyurl.com/32wcaja

Huge cost of poorly written letters: http://tinyurl.com/22reeja

Texting a plus for communications: http://tinyurl.com/2cqv92m

Plain language awards: http://tinyurl.com/22m5yss

What’s a third-grade reading level?: http://tinyurl.com/29fjsay

Poor communications by foundations: http://tinyurl.com/2cy36gc

Voting is about the most important thing most of us ever do in public life. This study explores the effects of plain language on the process.

http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/jus/2010may/redish4.html