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Legal writers can benefit from a Zen writing approach and some Hemingway—and

Blissful Ignorance: Bad writers may be happier than good ones Toggle navigation My ABA Events CLE Marketplace Shop ABA Member

whatever tends to be boring. You might say that the difference between writers and good

Kimble February 12, 2026, 8:43 am CST   Tweet     Email Print Joseph Kimble. Why do legal writers resist or dismiss plain

Patterson tells listeners in the podcast, he is open about working with other writers on many of

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overlap. Good cross is about tension, pacing and revelation—the same tools writers use in dialogue

three-time Jeopardy! champion and a two-time president of Mystery Writers of America

has a BA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Recent Articles Legal writers can benefit from a

Kevin Davis Assistant Managing Editors Victor Li Stephanie Francis Ward Senior Writer Amanda Robert Legal Affairs Writers Shirley Henderson Julianne Hill

the errors were due to unauthorized use of AI by their brief writers, and that

has a BA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Recent Articles Legal writers can benefit from a

to get viewers to become invested, it is not the primary factor. “Writers want to tell

and a second “copy-and-edit” hypothesis. The latter posits that writers insert clauses in

segregated? What about everyone else in the industry, like directors and writers and choreographers

Pitches Tips and Pitches The ABA Journal will consider queries from professional writers or from potential sources

words, and musings on the blissful ignorance of bad legal writers. Here's the

next. Attention is the real constraint, and it’s tighter than most writers admit. Judges are tired

of a 2020 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers and has

fixed bad habits that pervade legal writing, perhaps none is more perniciously persistent than some brief-writers’ insistence on capitalizing each

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lawyer wanted to push his limits, so he took up bare-knuckle fighting Legal writers can benefit from a

to claim . They involve the mechanics of sentence construction. What many legal writers don’t realize is

lawyer wanted to push his limits, so he took up bare-knuckle fighting Legal writers can benefit from a

Kevin Davis Assistant Managing Editors Victor Li Stephanie Francis Ward Senior Writer Amanda Robert Legal Affairs Writers Shirley Henderson Julianne Hill

Feb 24, 2026 9:25 AM CST Why do lawyers resist plain language? Why do legal writers resist or dismiss plain

lawyer and father of three. Jul 1, 2026 1:00 AM CDT Legal writers can benefit from a

Feb 24, 2026 9:25 AM CST Why do lawyers resist plain language? Why do legal writers resist or dismiss plain

film, which was supposed to be a low-budget streaming series. But writers kept dropping out. Since

outcome of the ABA’s long-standing collaborative advocacy with groups representing artists, writers and musicians

Drafting: What skills are some lawyers missing? Mar 24, 2026, 12:17 pm CDT Good legal writers use AI as an

malaria in 1798, at age 55. Jul 1, 2026 8:05 AM CDT Legal writers can benefit from a

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in 2002, he won a prestigious Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America

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judgment. And most users understand that. Myrtle October Champaign, Illinois Garnering appreciation Regarding “Good legal writers use AI as an

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as optional refinements for aficionados. Mar 24, 2026 12:17 PM CDT Good legal writers use AI as an

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themed civil wedding ceremonies. Sci-Fi Legal Futures Are Here When filmmakers and television writers use computers in

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Iowa, which removed 3,600, according to data from PEN America. The writers’ association focuses on supporting

Drafting: What skills are some lawyers missing? Mar 24, 2026, 12:17 pm CDT Good legal writers use AI as an

readers. Each jump requires a mental “reset.” Sensing the confusion, many legal writers respond by condensing their

Because the law is essentially a literary profession. And professional writers over the years

have so much more experience. You: Maybe so, but everybody needs an editor. Good edits make writers look smarter. So use

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sake is abrasive and unoriginal. On top of that, the writers’ randomness and “pedal

readers. Each jump requires a mental “reset.” Sensing the confusion, many legal writers respond by condensing their

lawyer wanted to push his limits, so he took up bare-knuckle fighting Legal writers can benefit from a

contract can avert disaster, and Ken Adams’ blog exists to keep legal writers from steering into icebergs

That literacy will define professionalism in the years ahead. We must teach lawyers, writers and analysts

fixed bad habits that pervade legal writing, perhaps none is more perniciously persistent than some brief-writers’ insistence on capitalizing each

lawyer add a sports angle to her real estate finance practice Legal writers can benefit from a

about how Miranda warnings have shown up in pop culture, and how writers tend to use

on the Shelf? 34 ABA Journal What's on the Shelf? articles. Legal writers can benefit from a

wrote. The Volokh Conspiracy volokh.com The layout, lineup of writers and libertarian

Hollywood scripts, and sometimes even breaking-news tickers on major networks cause some careful writers to shake

discipline of sitting down day after day to write is what separates writers from dreamers. Finding time

fixed bad habits that pervade legal writing, perhaps none is more perniciously persistent than some brief-writers’ insistence on capitalizing each

TalkLeft 483 votes The Volokh Conspiracy The layout, lineup of writers and libertarian

moment that we start law school, we get advice on how to be better writers. Most of it

Patterson tells listeners in the podcast, he is open about working with other writers on many of

succinctly for effective motions and briefs Opening Statements Mystery and thriller writers tell the stories

succinctly for effective motions and briefs Opening Statements Mystery and thriller writers tell the stories

become Hollywood blockbusters reveal popular skepticism about the rule of law Legal writers can learn a

Garner’s 2023 legal writing tips Dec 21, 2023, 08:57 am CST Blissful Ignorance: Bad writers may be happier than

founder and former assistant U.S. attorney David Lat is editor at large. Lawyers-turned-writers Staci Zaretsky and

Assistant Managing Editors Victor Li Stephanie Francis Ward Senior Writer Debra Cassens Weiss (Web) Legal Affairs Writers Julianne Hill Amanda Robert

& Pitches Tips and Pitches The ABA Journal considers queries from professional writers or from potential sources

Assistant Managing Editors Victor Li Stephanie Francis Ward Senior Writer Debra Cassens Weiss (Web) Legal Affairs Writers Julianne Hill Amanda Robert

Assistant Managing Editors Victor Li Stephanie Francis Ward Senior Writer Debra Cassens Weiss (Web) Legal Affairs Writers Julianne Hill Amanda Robert

by the content, but what kept me was the way the writers interacted so well with

works on other cases, she is helping to expand that program, seeking other volunteer writers to research

builds community among new or aspiring female lawyers. Some posts are written by Ms. JD’s “ writers in residence

Citizens use the harshest of language to criticize one another, writers, politicians, athletes, singers, social

one recent LinkedIn job posting stands out: A law firm expressly seeking talented legal writers invited candidates to

Garner’s 2023 legal writing tips Dec 21, 2023, 08:57 am CST Blissful Ignorance: Bad writers may be happier than

Theory 149 votes The Volokh Conspiracy The layout, lineup of writers and libertarian

fixed bad habits that pervade legal writing, perhaps none is more perniciously persistent than some brief-writers’ insistence on capitalizing each

him." — The Jury Room blogger Rita Handrich 65 votes Crime & Consequences The writers of Crime

him." — The Jury Room blogger Rita Handrich 65 votes Crime & Consequences The writers of Crime

Flower Moon : Apple Original Films; Martin Scorsese, director; Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, screenplay writers; Leonardo DeCaprio, Rick Yorn

has recently attracted a slew of lawyers and attorney-adjacent writers who realized how much

an issue that is more real to me than ever before.” The Writers Guild of America

second novel, Final Appeal, won the prestigious Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America

ethical issues that came from these shows, and a lot of writers were former lawyers,” Menkel

balanced view of the criminal justice system. “One of the writers was from Legal Aid

to court or even write a brief, all of us are professional writers and speakers

was a fine writer. She thought it was important that her children be as good writers as they could be

can remove a thick layer of stress from junior lawyers—good thinkers, writers and problem

as the exclusionary rule, limiting illegally obtained evidence. The NSLs, the writers said, are “intrusive tools

s Standing Committee on Law and National Security. The committee invited both writers. The book

in the direction you want the reader to look. Good writers use them abundantly. Normally

Attraction and Discretion , and also blogs about tips for other crime writers. Am Law Daily americanlawyer

themed civil wedding ceremonies. Sci-Fi Legal Futures Are Here When filmmakers and television writers use computers in

was a fine writer. She thought it was important that her children be as good writers as they could be

a discussion about the espionage case against Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Both writers had addressed the