This on-demand program explores examples of the most prevalent pitfalls of using precedents (vagueness and ambiguity), and provides helpful techniques for spotting and correcting archaic and convoluted language, built into precedents over time, that confuses judges, lawyers, and clients alike. This on-demand program was originally broadcasted as a live webinar on January 31, 2024. Total running time is 1 hour, 33 minutes.

Communication is integral to the practice of law. Having the skill set and knowledge base to produce well-written legal documents, such as contracts or litigation documents, greatly benefits your practice. Walk away from this on-program with an expanded skill set, an ability to assess what makes for a good or bad piece of legal writing, and an awareness of common crucial errors and how to avoid them. This on-demand program was originally presented as a 2-part in-person and livestream program in October, 2021.

Review the categories of language in contracts such as obligation, discretion, prohibition, and policy. Discuss what makes for a bad piece of legal writing and how to fix it. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person and livestream program on October 27, 2021. Total running time is 2 hours, 18 minutes.

Review legal writing as related to contracts, litigation documents, and bylaws. Explore common crucial errors and how to avoid them, and discuss standard clauses, such as representations vs. warranties, consideration clauses, indemnify vs. hold harmless, and reasonable efforts. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person and livestream program on October 6, 2021. Total running time is 2 hours, 13 minutes.

Review the primary tenets of the legal memo: structure, purpose, clarity, and conciseness, as well as the little big things you can learn to incorporate into your memos – style, flow, and weaving in the voice that makes you unique – that will enable you to produce your best work (and to be proud of it) and to make yours and your senior’s experience a little more enjoyable. This on-demand program was originally broadcasted as a webinar on June 8, 2020. Total running time is 45 minutes. Please note: Though we do our best to ensure quality, technology is not always 100% reliable. This recording contains a few seconds of minor audio glitches. 

How do we reconcile the ease and relative safety of precedent usage with recent pushes from the bench, legal educators, and an increasing number of clients, towards clear and easy-to-understand language in contracts? This on-demand program points out common examples of the most prevalent pitfalls of using precedents – vagueness and ambiguity – and provides helpful techniques for spotting and correcting archaic and convoluted language, built into precedents over time, that confuses judges, lawyers, and clients alike. This on-demand program was originally broadcasted as a webinar on May 27, 2020. Total running time is 51 minutes.

Good legal writing is vital to be able to clearly communicate with or advocate for clients. An overriding purpose in both writing and drafting is to communicate: to convey a message from one’s mind to the readers. This paper focuses on clarity, concision, and engagement. Topics include history of legal writing, plain language, plain language writing guidelines, contract language, and artificial intelligence in legal drafting. This paper was presented at LESA’s Drafting Effective Contracts webinar on January 31, 2024.