Write.law

Great legal writing is intentional, strategic, and thoughtfully structured—and the right AI tools can make mastering these skills easier and faster. ?? The goal is to start treating AI and writing not as separate skills—but as two parts of the same holistic goal: achieving the best writing possible. So instead of just breaking down writing techniques from great writers, let’s bring AI into the mix. ?? Craft Powerful Paragraph Openers Your opening sentence should clearly signal that unique value. You can do this by highlighting key terms or ideas from your paragraph or framing the point with language that grabs attention. ?? Transition Smartly Great legal writers typically rely on two transition techniques: (1) echoing key words or phrases from the preceding sentence, or (2) using logical transition phrases to explicitly signal the relationship between ideas. ?? Harness Rhetorical Structures Rhetorical techniques like parallelism, sentence balance, and alliteration aren’t mere flourishes—they strengthen your credibility and help your arguments stick with readers. Swipe through the carousel ???? to see each example in detail and learn a GenAI tip to enhance it. - #legalwriting #legaltech

The facts are often as important, if not more important, than the law. Legal readers relish a good story. It’s part of being human. ?? If the facts are against you, it’s even more important that you leverage strategies for rehabilitating or deemphasizing what’s harmful. After all, you can bet the other side will press the facts to their advantage. When distilling your fact sections into takeaways, you’re looking to turn that long list of details into a set of key points readers can wrap their heads around. ?? Remember, your factual takeaways should either persuade readers through the power of the story itself or illustrate points needed for the legal analysis later. ?? - #legalwriting

Experienced attorneys will tell you that most disputes come down to just a few points of contention. ?? Whether it’s a brief or any other legal document, figure out what the heart of it is and distill those few points in a quick pitch that your readers can absorb without wading through a dense analysis. ?? Providing those takeaways upfront equips readers to absorb your full argument later because they’ll have a roadmap of where you’re taking them. Swipe through the carousel ?? to see an example of what not to do. The key takeaway readers need to agree with the conclusion in bold is nowhere to be found. If you read the entire brief, the lawyer did have some specifics hiding away that could have convinced readers. So, we transformed the introduction to focus on those key takeaways. ? Now, what’s different? We gave readers the details and perspective they need to understand why the merger should be blocked, rather than hoping they’ll take our word for it. - #legalwriting #legaleducation

Lawyers are handling more information than ever, while clients demand faster service. ?? The good news? No-code platforms and generative AI (GenAI) tools are making automation accessible to everyone. ?? Let’s break down how no-code and GenAI can transform legal work: ?? No-code platforms let you build applications and automate workflows using drag-and-drop tools instead of code. Think of them as Lego for software development. ?? GenAI tools are introducing new agent features that allow them to function more like customized software. For example, ChatGPT can now support automated tasks. The best part? You don’t need to be a tech expert to start: ?? Use Zapier to automate a manual task. ?? Draft a contract clause using ChatGPT. ?? Build a simple legal intake form in Airtable. The future of legal work is tech-assisted, faster, and smarter—and those who embrace it now will lead the way. - #legalwriting #legaltech

Judge Stephanos Bibas’s opinion in Thomson Reuters v. ROSS Intelligence is a gem of judicial writing. If you love sharp reasoning wrapped in compelling prose, you’re in for a treat. ?? Let’s break down what makes this opinion a masterclass in legal writing: ?? Start Strong, Signal the Stakes When writing a legal argument, use an opening that signals importance, raises curiosity, or frames the issue in a way that engages. ?? Frame the Story with a Clear Narrative When introducing a case or legal issue, don’t drown your reader in details right away. Start with the big picture. ?? Use Metaphors to Drive Home Key Legal Points Use metaphors to turn legal concepts into something concrete. Look for ways to explain legal concepts through comparisons to everyday things. ?? Prime Your Reader Before Delivering the Key Takeaway Introduce the rules, show why they apply, and only then deliver the takeaway. ?? Use Short, Punchy Sentences to Hammer Home Critical Points Judge Bibas’s writing stands out for its clarity, and one reason is that he knows when to cut the fluff and hit hard with short sentences. Swipe through the carousel ?? to dive deeper into each example. - #legalwriting?

When distilling your document takeaways for readers, be specific. ?? You’re aiming for something like a slogan: a sentence or two for each point that persuades on its own because it’s self-contained. ? In other words, your takeaways must deal with any facts, authorities, or arguments that undermine you. One-sided takeaways don’t help readers make hard decisions. ? Your goal is for these takeaways to guide your reader through the gauntlet to reach your goal. So you’ll need to research and think quite a bit until you’ve found a path for readers to follow. ?? The more time you take to craft these cornerstone takeaways, the easier persuading your reader will be. - #legalwriting

In today’s fast-paced environment, the quality of quick written communication can be a game changer. ?? Effective emails go beyond conveying information; they reflect a lawyer’s ability to simplify ideas and guide clients and colleagues to what they need. ?? So let’s look at some things you should do differently: ??Begin your email with a good subject line. ??Prepare an engaging and impactful opening paragraph. ??Start with a quick summary of the most important takeaways. ??Use structure and white space to make your message easy to navigate. ??Make sure that any outside references are easy to find. ??Take time to organize your content and simplify your points. Check out the carousel ?? to explore each example in more detail. - #legalwriting

Write.law’s unmatched expertise in legal writing and cutting-edge legal technology—powered by a new customizable legal writing AI—is ushering in a new era of legal writing excellence. ?? Our proprietary technology allows you to create AI-powered writing apps, style guides, and training materials that embody your attorneys’ unique writing styles and preferences. ?? Associates and professionals can quickly rewrite text in a partner’s voice, ask writing questions from a customized legal writing database, and receive targeted feedback. Say goodbye to inconsistent drafts and time-wasting edits ?. For the first time ever, your team can master a unified writing style that elevates quality, boosts efficiency, and captures your organization’s unique voice. Welcome to a new era of legal writing excellence! ?? - #legalwriting #legaltech

We often feature Justice Kagan here at Write.law—and for good reason. ?? If you’re looking for a legal writer who applies top-tier techniques with incredible consistency, look no further. So let’s take a closer look at what makes her writing so distinctive. ?? ?? Start with a Clean, Direct Introduction Kagan doesn’t waste time. She begins with a crisp, no-nonsense introduction that frames the issue clearly and simply. Instead of dumping doctrine right away, she tells you the core dispute in a way any reader can grasp. ?? Tell a Story Even in complex cases, Kagan often tells a story instead of merely reciting facts. She makes the people and disputes come alive, drawing the reader into the legal issue. ?? Use Humor (Sparingly) The Justice isn’t afraid to inject a bit of wit into her writing. A well-placed joke or lighthearted analogy can make dense legal writing more engaging and persuasive. But only if you don’t push it. ?? Keep Sentences and Paragraphs Tight Her writing is tight and controlled. She avoids long-winded sentences and dense paragraphs that overwhelm the reader. Check out the carousel ?? to explore each example in more detail. - #legalwriting #legaltech

Legal writing gurus often talk about how you shouldn’t use “elegant variation” in your briefs and motions. Use the same words, consistently, again and again. ?? But this is good advice only for words that need to stay consistent to avoid confusing your reader, like statutory language, a case title, or a party’s name. ?? So yes, don’t call a case by different names or describe a legal principle in three different ways. Varying either of these in the same document makes readers wonder if you’re referring to different things. Take dialogue tags—words that signal someone said something. Lawyers not only use those but also what you might call argument tags: words that signal what someone argued. ?? The best legal writers will vary those attributions, where they are located, and their form—so that readers never get distracted by the plodding repetition. ?? - #legalwriting