Quote:
Originally posted by notcasesensitive
One just said to me on the phone (I'm not making this up):
-- "I believe that the definition of "[defined term]" is not robust enough in the document."
[10 minute soliloquy regarding his point omitted for everyone's sake]
followed by
-- "I believe that we have reached an accord on the opinion."
My notes on the call:
"[defined term]" not robust enough
I didn't really need to take notes on the call because he will be sending me a markup on the matter, but I jotted it down just for a good laugh.
TM, if that is you, I think I can kick your ass (with or without a severed arm).
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Bright people write in active voice and usually use short sentences and layman's terms as much as possible. If you get a letter containing heretofore, aforementioned, or any Latin other than res judicata, chances are you're dealing with an amatuer. Any litigator worth his salt follow the advisory guidelines (or maybe it was a memo) laid down by the Fed Bench in the early or mid 90s stating that legal writing should be as short, consice and absent legalease as possible.
of course, I follow none of the writing rules on this board...
