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463 ABA Journal Legal Writing articles.

Oops! ‘Meh’ parenthetical ended up in published federal decision

A federal judge’s case dismissal is getting some attention because of an apparent note-to-self that didn’t get removed from the published order. The writer was apparently dissatisfied with a statement summarizing the requirements for a false advertising claim. The parenthetical on page 11 reads: “(Meh I need a better rule…

Feb 14, 2019 11:15 AM CST

If lawyers made candy hearts, what would yours say?

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a box of conversation hearts. If you’re a fan of the sweet treats, your heart might break over this recent news: The New England Confectionery Co., the makers of the iconic Sweethearts candies, went out of business last summer, according to CNBC. While the Spangler…

Feb 13, 2019 3:45 PM CST

Judging the judges: With all due respect, of course

Can judges get nasty and difficult? I have been retired from my litigation practice in Greater Toronto for about two years now. I am therefore in a good position to answer that question with all confidence and security, and above all without fear of repercussions.

Jan 31, 2019 6:30 AM CST

Westlaw Edge adds judicial citation analytics

Thomson Reuters on Monday released Precedent Analytics, a new feature to the Westlaw Edge research platform.

Jan 28, 2019 7:00 AM CST

Reed Smith partner cites ‘Animal House’ and Tweety Bird, leading to scolding by federal judge

A Reed Smith partner who has filed briefs citing Animal House and Tweety Bird in his defense of a Russian company received a scolding on Monday from a federal judge who told him his latest brief was “unprofessional, inappropriate and ineffective.” U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich told the lawyer, Eric…

Jan 8, 2019 9:38 AM CST

Da Vinci’s code: Lawyers can draw valuable lessons from Walter Isaacson’s ‘Leonardo da Vinci’

With winter’s chill now in full force, I recall sitting in a beach chair in late August on a spit of sand on the rocky Maine coast reading Walter Isaacson’s marvelous book Leonardo da Vinci. I have been completely absorbed by the book, and it seems as if I have…

Jan 1, 2019 2:20 AM CST

Plain talk: A conversation on simplicity with Rudolf Flesch

Seeking to bring the scientific method to bear on readability, Rudolph Flesch advocated a simple and direct style of writing: short paragraphs, short sentences, few prefixes and suffixes, and relative informality. He developed two measures for assessing readability: (1) reading ease and (2) human interest.

Jan 1, 2019 2:15 AM CST

Top 10 most-read legal news stories of 2018

Lawyers busy with research, conferences and other high-concentration tasks sometimes need a break. So it’s no surprise that the most-viewed articles on our website tend toward water-cooler topics, or that readership tends to peak at midmorning and lunch hours. Check out the site’s most-read articles in 2018, with updates on the latest developments.

Dec 21, 2018 2:11 PM CST

‘Justice’ is dictionary’s word of the year

Merriam-Webster has selected “justice” as its word of the year for 2018. The word was a top lookup throughout the year, with the entry being consulted 74 percent more than in 2017, according to the dictionary’s website. The word has many definitions and was at the center of several issues…

Dec 17, 2018 10:04 AM CST

Federal judge warns of possible sanctions after lawyer files complaint in screenplay format

A federal judge in Boston has warned a Lowell, Massachusetts, lawyer about the possibility of Rule 11 sanctions after he filed a federal complaint against the judges on the state’s top court in the form of a screenplay. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani warned lawyer Ilya Liviz in a Dec.…

Dec 12, 2018 10:41 AM CST

What common language errors make you grit your teeth?

Whether you’re listening to a voice message from a client, reading aloud a brief or consulting a colleague about a case, you’ve likely heard someone use a wrong word in a sentence—and it made you cringe.

Dec 5, 2018 3:59 PM CST

Sotomayor and Gorsuch often use these signature phrases during oral arguments

Many Supreme Court justices have signature phrases and styles when questioning lawyers during oral arguments. But Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil M. Gorsuch “win the prize” for their oft-used phrases, the Associated Press reports. Sotomayor often interrupts a lawyer by saying “I’m sorry,” even though her tone suggests she isn’t…

Dec 5, 2018 8:15 AM CST

From cliches to banalities and bizarre word usages, here’s why I’m still cranky about language

Now that I’ve established my linguistic bona fides—and my cantankerous personality—let me move from do’s and don’ts to my personal likes and dislikes.

Nov 29, 2018 7:00 AM CST

Do you always write briefs to the maximum length?

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruffled feathers with some proposed changes to its rules. One of the biggest changes would be cutting the allowed length of reply briefs from 6,000 words to 4,500 words. Merit briefs also would face a lower word-count limit, going to 13,000 from the…

Nov 28, 2018 5:00 PM CST

From run-on sentences to split infinitives, here’s why I’m cranky about language

OK, it’s true. When it comes to language, I’m a bit cranky. All right, all right. I admit it. I’m more than a crank. I’m an absolute curmudgeon. ’enry ’iggins had nothing on me. I have enough pet peeves to fill a kennel. And I never hesitate to point them…

Nov 27, 2018 6:30 AM CST

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