Legal Writing for Clarity

Question 1

Don’t write to be ______. Write so that you CAN’T be _______ - _______

Answer 1

Understood; Misunderstood; Taft

Question 2

Create _______ before detail

Answer 2

Context

Question 3

Relax your ______

Answer 3

Diction

Question 4

______ the information in your sentences

Answer 4

Link

Question 5

Convey the information in _______.

Answer 5

Manageable chunks

Question 6

4 principles of clarity (CRLC)

Answer 6

1. Create context before detail
2. Relax diction
3. Link the information to sentences
4. Convey the information in chunks

Question 7

Absolute importance of giving context so that the reader will understand _____ they are reading

Answer 7

As (simultaneously)

Question 8

How do you create context throughout the document? (IMT)

Answer 8

1. Informative introduction
2. Meaningful headings
3. Topic sentences

Question 9

Give both ______and _____ context within _____ language

Answer 9

Factual; Legal; Concise

Question 10

In an opinion, the first sentence only includes _____ umbrella law, which sets the overall ______.

Answer 10

ONE; Context

Question 11

_______ headings are background, procedural history, discussion, analysis

Answer 11

Empty (meaningless)

Question 12

Informative headings lead to ________ and improve reader’s ability to _______

Answer 12

Improved recall; Summarize content

Question 13

_______ provide valuable opportunity for readers to understand context in each paragraph sequentially by sentences

Answer 13

Topic sentences

Question 14

Readers should be able to ______ see why _____are important

Answer 14

Instantly; Details

Question 15

Use meaningful headings and topic sentences to ______the reader

Answer 15

Focus

Question 16

Second method of creating clarity is to ______

Answer 16

Relax diction

Question 17

Avoid using what 3 types of language? (LLB)

Answer 17

1. Latin
2. Legalese
3. Big words

Question 18

Avoid ______at all costs.

Answer 18

Typos

Question 19

Judges will mostly consider whether applicants are ________, using _______ correctly

Answer 19

Attention to detail; Grammar

Question 20

Linking ideas with effective _______, such as by using “it, this, etc.” to _______refer to the subject

Answer 20

Transitions; Directly

Question 21

Try to make as clear as possible when referring to _______ that is in fact is what we referred to previously. You can take the “guess word” by using _______, or more effectively, use the ______.

Answer 21

Old information; Synonyms; Same word

Question 22

Make the reader able to _______see the ______ between old and new information

Answer 22

Instantly; Relationship

Question 23

Convey the information in ______.

Answer 23

Manageable chunks

Question 24

A chunk is an item that can be held in one’s ______

Answer 24

Short term memory

Question 25

Separate long sentences or paragraphs in ______chunks. Each chunk is ______ in its content (naturally flows)

Answer 25

Digestible; Easy to spot

Question 26

Favorite judges (RKGKE):

Answer 26

1. Roberts
2. Kagan
3. Gorsuch
4. Kavanaugh
5. Easterbrook