Have you ever been handed a legal document and felt confused by it? You’re not the only one who feels this way! Even experts of English can be put off by difficult language in any document. Direct grammar, concise words, and the use of latitude are important to drafting legal documents that are easy to read and understand. Here are some of the most effective tips that will help you in the drafting of documents.
- Plan out the document before you begin
This is where you’ll lay the groundwork for the document you’re going to draft. You’ll need to decide on a few document requirements for legal drafting. This contains the following:
- Who are you writing for?
- Defining the document’s intent in a case or legal matter
- Include any relevant information
- Ensure that the style guide and vocabulary are right.
- Identifying additional contributors to the paper
- Keeping track of your record capital
You’ll need to sit down and figure out the timing after you’ve developed all of this. Make a rough yet practical writing, reading, revising, and editing schedule for your draft contract.
- Keep your language clear and simple
While drafting in law, keep the sentence form short and simple. To prevent misunderstanding, describe all technical terms used regularly in your writing at the beginning of your text. If there are easier options, try to avoid using long, complicated terms. Make it concise and to the point. This tip is important particularly if you are drafting court documents. Furthermore, proper grammar and spelling are also needed for drafting legal documents.
- Always use an active voice
It is important to use the active voice in your writing to avoid misunderstanding. In a nutshell, it specifies who is responsible for what in a sentence. Passive speech lengthens sentences, increasing the likelihood of uncertainty in the legal document. The endings of passive verbs are normally “en” or “ed.” ”The legal document was written by the lawyer.” is an example of using the passive voice. Instead of using the passive voice, this statement can be condensed by using the active voice: ”The lawyer wrote the legal document.” This is an important tip for legal letter drafting.
- Make information accessible
Legal records are usually lengthy and time-consuming to create and interpret. When drafting legal documents, make it easier for your readers by highlighting key parts of the text for quick access. In the text, use marks, reference points, and color-coded labels to ensure that all pertinent material is identified without having to sift through wads of paper.
- Use consistent descriptions
Finally, while drafting contracts, make sure that the material definitions are consistent in the legal statement. This means you shouldn’t use so many different words to represent the same subject. This might, once again, cause uncertainty. In legal literature, using a synonym rather than repeating the same word is not preferred. You can prevent misunderstanding by using clear terminology.