OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION

SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

EFFECTIVE LEGAL WRITING

PRETEST:

1. How can you say that a legal document is effectively written?

2. Why does a Legal Office Personnel needs to be equipped with effective legal
communication?

3. Name at least three (3) legal documents and give its function. convert

LESSON # 1.
A Good Legal Writing.

A well-written document accomplishes the writer’s purpose (objective) in

writing the document (e.g. writing a brief to persuade the court, then the brief
is well written that persuade the audience – court).

A legal document is well written if the writing facilitates legal decision-making.

LEGAL WRITING
 An inherently social activity in which the legal writer puts pen to paper
in order to have a certain effect on a target audience.
 A written output.
 The style of writing used when writing a document that’s filed or
presented at court.

THREE (3) QUALITIES:

1) Good Legal Writing is CLEAR – Contemporary commenters (literary elegance,
erudition, sophistication of expression) on legal writing exalt clarity and it must
be sacrificed when writing a clear legal documents.
A legal reader picks up a document in order to gain information that will help
them make a decision, thus, it must facilitate good legal decision.
The purpose of communication is to communicate and this can’t be done if the
reader or listener doesn’t understand the words used. Thus, when the writing is
clear, the reader is expected to accurately comprehend the writer’s message and
use information for decision-making.

How to achieve clarity in legal writing?

- proper grammar and punctuation
She need to file for a petition.
Let’s eat grandpa!

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

- Use ordinary language not a poetic language

no complex vocabulary
I felt dramatic when one of my classmates bruited me in front of my
Teacher. (tell or spread humors)

layman’s terms
The defendant entered the courtroom.
The person accused of the crime entered the courtroom.

- Simple Sentences
Laica (subject) waited (verb) for the train.

2) Good Legal Writing is CONCISE – It is often brief, but it is always efficient. A

sentence should have no unnecessary words and paragraphs, unless the reader
tends to lose interest in long text in order to grasp the writer’s meaning.
3) Good Legal Writing is ENGAGING – “No matter how sounds your reasoning, if it
is presented in a dull and turgid setting, your hearers or readers will turn aside.
they will stop to listen. But if it is presented in a lively and attractive setting they
will sit up and take notice.

In other words, readers will not want to keep reading a document, no matter
how clear and concise it is, if it does not engage their interest.

Use varied sentence structures and avoid repetitive words.

I wish I could see him before I go and I wish I’ll be more patient in
waiting. (I wish I could see him before I go and be more patient in
waiting)

Use of expressive vocabulary (ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings

through words, gestures, sign, and/or other symbols).

LESSON # 2.
A Readable Sentences.

MAKING THE SENTENCE READABLE

1. Avoid portmanteau sentences – portmanteau means a word blending the

sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example: motel (from
‘motor’ and ‘hotel’) or brunch (from ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’).
Further, only one idea should be presented per sentence, or that several
sentences be used, if necessary.

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

2. Run-on Sentences – it is a two sentences linked by a word like “however”.

If you use conjunction (e.g. however), put semicolon before it and a coma after
it.
“....failed to comply; however, she decided….”

3. In appropriate placement of modifiers – This is a word order problem,

rather than an example of grammatical mistake. It come about the writer leaves
a phrase dangling, instead of placing it next to the word it is supposed to modify.

A modifier is a word, phrase, or a clause that provides

descriptions. “Wearing, lying” – sample of modifier

4. Elegant variation and inappropriate repetition – The use of ingenuity to

think up synonyms which may or may not mean exactly the same thing. Either
way, they introduce confusion.
I obligate myself in this event. – commit
The claimant claimed payment. – avail or receive

6. Overuse of passive voice – means that a sentence has a subject that acts
upon its verb. The subject is a recipient of a verb’s action.

ACTIVE VOICE – The subject performs the action denoted by the verb.
The dog chased the ball.
*more concise or shorter and direct

PASSIVE VOICE – Emphasizes the recipient of the action.

The ball was chased by the dog.

The judgment was paid by the him las week.

He paid the judgment ls week.

7. Restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses

Restrictive clauses limit or identify such nouns and cannot be removed from a
sentence without changing the sentence’s meaning. Essential clause that
provides key and identify information. (that, who, whom, or whose)

That astronaut who first stepped on the moon was Neil Armstrong.
That astronaut was Neil Armstrong.
*not the same intent (first who stepped on the moon and an astronaut)
Children who eat vegetables are likely to be healthy.

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

Children are likely to be healthy.

*when remove, it limits the intention of the sentence.

Nonrestrictive clause provide additional but optional descriptions that can be

excised from a sentence without altering its meaning or structure.

Kaylee, who just graduated from high school, is an accomplished

figure skater.
Kylee is an accomplished figure skater.
*This is removable part of the sentence.

LESSON # 3.
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation

GRAMMAR – it provides information that helps reader’s comprehension

a) Agreement of all verbs (singular or plural) and tense (past, present, and
future)
Alejandra directed a play.
Lena will show me how to use a microscope.
Isaac eats a lot of steaks.

b) The subject-verb agreement as to number

The dog chases the cat.
The dogs chase the cat.

SPELLING – the art of correctly assembling words from their letters. One of the
essential components of successful writing.

Communication – good spelling facilitates communication. By following the

same rules for spelling words, we can all understand the text we read.

Comprehension – good spelling avoids confusion. If you write with intent

and proper spelling, the receiver of that text will understand it.

We hir them last month.

He swimm at the river.

PUNCTUATION – helps the reader to clearly understand the message that is being
conveyed. It helps to indicate the pauses and the emphasis on certain ideas or thoughts
that are discussed in the text.

Let’s eat Bob. (Let’s eat, Bob)

He is dying now. He needs help. (He is dying now. He needs help!)

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

I your women then you should be more scared of snakes. (If you’re)
A man eating crocodile. (A man-eating crocodile)

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