Explain why good writing skills are important in the legal ...

[cabate]

Explain why good writing skills are important in the legal profession.
 
  Provide a list of
  the guidelines for a well-written document.

Question 2

List and describe the factors that should be considered before beginning a legal writing assignment.
 
  Help with this? Please.

[Ptupou85]

Answer to Question 1

Law is a communications profession. For paralegals, good writing skills go hand-in- hand with successful job performance. Some of the paralegal's written work, such as correspondence, represents the firm for which the paralegal works. A well-written document is a positive reflection on the firm and upholds the firm's reputation for good work.

Organize and outline your presentation.
Choose the proper format for your document.
Use structural devices to guide the reader through complex discussions
Write to your audience.
Avoid legalese.
Be brief and to the point.
Use well-constructed sentences.
Use effective paragraphs and transitions.
Avoid pronoun confusion.
Be alert for sexist language.
Proofread and revise your document.

Answer to Question 2

Before undertaking a legal writing assignment, the factors that should be considered are:

The nature of the writing assignmentUnderstan ding the assignment allows the researcher to execute the task of legal research as efficiently as possible. The writing style, format, and methodological approach used in legal writing vary depending on the objectives of the document assigned. If a researcher has questions, they should be asked.
When the assignment must be completedUnderstand ing the due date for an assignment is critical. Frequently, legal documents must be filed with a court by a certain date or a client's rights may be lost or harmed. Also, clients usually want quick answers. A legal researcher needs to assess the situation realistically and make informed judgment calls by deciding what information is crucial and what may be omitted. If a researcher has questions, they should be directed to the supervising attorney.
What type of writing approach is appropriate to the assignmentOn receiving a writing assignment, a paralegal needs to determine what type of writing is requiredan objective analysis or an advocacy approach. An objective analysis discusses all sides of a legal matter. Advocacy involves presenting the facts and issues in a light most favorable to the client. The style of writing is different for these two approaches, so the approach needs to be determined at the outset in order to avoid spending time unnecessarily in preparing a document.