Judges advise clarity and succinctness in legal writing

Emily Grant of Washburn recently reported her informal survey of judges’ thoughts about legal writing:

The most common comment I received dealt with organization and clarity of court filings. [L]ong, rambling briefs are ineffective. . . . . [M]ore often than not, a longer brief is confusing for the reader and less effective because the writer fails to clarify and hone the issues facing the court. . . .

In addition to advocating for clear and concise writing, many judges and clerks reiterated the importance of proofreading. It's a basic housekeeping skill for writers . . . .

Grant’s short article appeared in the August issue of the Journal of the Kansas Bar Association.

(jdf)