1. Legal Writing: Invaluable Tips to Polish Your Skills 2006 Continuing Education Seminar – Baton Rouge Paralegal Association

2. Have something to say – and think it through Challenge: Figuring out, from the mass of things, you might possibly mention, precisely what your points are – and then stating them concisely, with adequate reasoning and support Challenge: Figuring out, from the mass of things, you might possibly mention, precisely what your points are – and then stating them concisely, with adequate reasoning and support Communicate your ideas swiftly to your reader Communicate your ideas swiftly to your reader

3. Phrasing your sentences Omit needless words Omit needless words Keep your average sentence length to about 20 words Keep your average sentence length to about 20 words Prefer the active voice to passive voice Prefer the active voice to passive voice

4. Choosing your Words Learn to detest simplifiable jargon Learn to detest simplifiable jargon Make everything you write speakable Make everything you write speakable

5. Effective Paragraphs Introduce each paragraph with a topic sentence. Introduce each paragraph with a topic sentence. Bridge between paragraphs Bridge between paragraphs Vary the length of your paragraphs, but generally keep them short. Vary the length of your paragraphs, but generally keep them short. Clear writing depends on the writer giving the reader signposts so the direction and point of the analysis are always apparent. Clear writing depends on the writer giving the reader signposts so the direction and point of the analysis are always apparent.

6. Final Thoughts for Continued Improvement Embrace constructive criticism Edit yourself systematically. Learn to find reliable answers to questions of grammar and usage Remember that good writing makes the reader's job easy; bad writing makes it hard.