3.3 Basic Standards of Legal Writing

Whatever the document — petition, contract, opinion, article — the standards are constant: 1. Accuracy — every statement of law has a source; every fact has a basis; nothing is overstated. 2. Clarity — the reader understands at first reading (the reader is busy, often a judge). 3. Conciseness (brevity) — every word earns its place; length is not thoroughness. 4. Coherence — ideas in logical order, visibly connected (linking signals, Unit 2.4). 5. Consistency — same term for the same concept, same tense for the same time, same spelling variety, same formats. 6. Completeness — every element required (parties, facts, grounds, relief/prayer; in contracts: all essential terms) is present. 7. Courtesy & professionalism — forceful on merits, moderate in tone; never personal. 8. Citation discipline — statutes and cases cited fully and accurately (Unit 2 of Legal Method). 9. Presentation — numbered paragraphs, margins, headings, and a clean layout (law is read by tired eyes). The reader test before filing: can a stranger, knowing nothing, reconstruct your document's purpose, facts, law and request in one reading?