Plain Language Pleadings [Paperback]

Carol Ann Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0131996398 | ISBN-13: 978-0131996397 | Edition: 1

A must-have for all legal secretaries! Written by a legal secretary with over 25 years of experience in the field of law, this unique, down-to-earth book shows how to avoid worthless, weighty "legalese" and simplify legal language by thinking and writing clearly for more powerful, concise, and effective communication. The book encourages thinking and communicating, rather than relying totally on forms, showing readers how to produce more powerful and persuasive documents. Stressing the importance of writing with the reader in mind, it helps legal assistants improve their writing, improve their thinking, and improve their product, which will in turn: improve the leal team; impress the client; improve the lawyer's image; increase the lawyer's business; and improve the legal system as a whole. For legal secretaries, lawyers, and anyone wishing to improve their writing skills.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This unique, down-to-earth text shows how to avoid worthless, weighty "legalese" and simplify legal language by thinking and writing clearly for more powerful, concise, and effective communication.

From the Back Cover

A must-have for all legal secretaries! Written by a legal secretary with over 25 years of experience in the field of law, this unique, down-to-earth book shows how to avoid worthless, weighty "legalese" and simplify legal language by thinking and writing clearly for more powerful, concise, and effective communication. The book encourages thinking and communicating, rather than relying totally on forms, showing readers how to produce more powerful and persuasive documents. Stressing the importance of writing with the reader in mind, it helps legal assistants improve their writing, improve their thinking, and improve their product, which will in turn: improve the leal team; impress the client; improve the lawyer's image; increase the lawyer's business; and improve the legal system as a whole. For legal secretaries, lawyers, and anyone wishing to improve their writing skills.

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (December 11, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131996398
• ISBN-13: 978-0131996397
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,843,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Ann Wilson, CFP(R), CFDP(R) is widely recognized as the foremost expert on marital financial issues and the leader in the field of divorce financial planning. As a Certified Financial Planner, she has been doing pre-divorce financial consulting since 1985. And in 1993, she founded the Institute for Certified Divorce Planners in order to train and enlighten attorneys, CPAs and financial professionals in the financial issues of divorce. She is the president of the Financial Divorce Association and an owner of the Academy of Financial Divorce Practitioners.

She has also designed software which has been widely used by lawyers and financial planners to calculate the financial result of divorce settlements. And she has served as an expert witness in court for over 120 divorce cases nationwide. She frequently serves as a keynote speaker and faculty member of high-ranking legal and financial organizations and has been published in numerous professional journals such as Newsweek, Money, and Forbes.

Carol Ann has appeared on the Regis Philbin Show, Geraldo, LifeTime Live, CNBC Financial News and a multitude of radio programs.

Carol Ann's books include:

Author of the Financial Guide to Divorce Settlement Author of the 40 Tips For Surviving Your Divorce Author of the Survival Manual to Divorce Co-author of the Survival Manual for Men in Divorce Co-author of the Survival Manual for Women in Divorce Co-author of the Dollars and Sense of Divorce Co-author of the ABC's of Divorce for Women.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Legal Writers, March 24, 2000

By 

Edwina Klemm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plain Language Pleadings (Paperback)

This book is a must for legal writers, whether legal secretaries, legal assistants, or lawyers. Many times I have had to draft a motion or some other court document and just needed something to get me started. Voila! There it was in her book. I keep it handy at all times. Also important is her explanation of the different styles of pleadings. I've never seen it explained anywhere else. This is a godsend when a lawyer asks, "Which is the correct format?" Since I started using her book and following plain language principles, I've talked with several judges about it. They say plain language pleadings are just as "legal" as the wordy ones and when lawyers use plain language, it helps the judges plow through the daily mounds of paper they must deal with. These judges tell me that if more lawyers would read and follow Carol Ann's book, the judges would be much happier to see them in their courts!