5 ways lawyers can make their articles and case studies more readable
Writing articles and case studies has become an integral part of most lawyers’ day-to-day roles. Sadly, when writing non-legal content, many lawyers struggle to make their articles easy to read and lapse into jargon and legalese. This article sets out five ways lawyers can make their content more readable.
1. Cut the legal jargon
Legal jargon is specialised vocabulary used in the legal field, often in Latin. It includes terms, phrases, and acronyms that may be unfamiliar to people outside of the legal profession, especially those who don't speak Latin (which is everyone).
While legal jargon can be helpful for precise communication within the legal community, it can also make legal writing more difficult for lay people to understand.
When writing legal articles, it is essential to consider the intended audience and use legal jargon and legalese sparingly. While it may be necessary to use specific terms to convey information accurately, it is crucial to define any jargon that may be unfamiliar to the reader.
2. Avoid TLAs
What’s a TLA, you ask? Exactly my point. A TLA is a three-letter acronym used as a short-hand for a legal phrase (for example, ‘RTA’ for road traffic accident), institution (for example, ‘FCA’ for Financial Conduct Authority) or act of parliament (for example, ‘MCA’ for Matrimonial Causes Act).
Not all acronyms contain three letters, but the same rule applies to all acronyms and abbreviations. These should be defined in full on first use. Just because something is used daily in your vocabulary doesn't mean everyone else, especially non-lawyers, will understand it.
3. Simplify your language
In addition to defining jargon and acronyms, avoid overly complex language. While legal writing often requires precise language, it is vital to aim for clarity. Strive to write in plain English so people can scan and absorb your writing quickly and easily.
Plain English is a way of writing that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. It is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, including people with limited education or English language skills.
You can use specific readability formulas to assess a legal article's difficulty level. One example is the Flesch-Kincaid readability test, which measures the average number of syllables per word and the average number of words per sentence to determine the reading level of the text. This is available in the spelling and grammar section of Word.
4. Structure your article
Organisation is key to improving readability. The article should be structured in a logical and easy-to-follow manner, with a concise introduction, main body and conclusion. Each section should have a clear purpose and should build on the information provided in previous sections. There should be a clear flow from beginning to end.
5. Think about layout
Effective formatting is another important aspect of readability. Breaking up long blocks of text with headings and subheadings can make the article more visually appealing and easier to navigate. You can also use bullet points and numbered lists to make it easier for the reader to follow.
Conclusion
Overall, the goal of improving readability in legal articles is to make the content as accessible and understandable as possible for the reader. By using clear language, effective formatting and organisation, and readability formulas, legal writers can help to ensure that their articles are easily understood by their intended audience.