Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text With Exercises

Simply put, this is a handy writing guide for lawyers. Just casually flipping through this book for a few minutes will make you a better writer. For example, I especially like the lists, which give you substitutes for legalese or summarize styles that Judges like. Briefly reading through this book taught me more than I learned in an entire semester of Legal Research & Writing. I highly recommend it.

This reference book is a great tool for prompting the editing of your own work. Often I will write something and after I have edited it then I will take a look at a few random sections of this book and make sure that my writing is in line with what this master wordsmith suggests. A bit of an erratic method of editing, but it serves a purpose of making me seriously think about if something applies or not to my work. However random, I am often surprised by the things that I turn up via this method.

In striving to be a better writer, complacency and comfort are your enemies. Garner has helped me break out of my self-made box. I gave it four out of five stars because there are times I am left wanting more from a few of the sections in this book. If there was a 4.5 star rating, then this book would have my vote.

The book is excellent. It teaches you everything about legal writing: design, grammar, persuasive writing, organized ideas and punctuation. Don't forget the exercises. They will help you to recognize your weaknesses in writing.

The book was everything i wanted. Very helpful, intricate, detailed, and just what i needed for my legal writing class. I highly recommend this book for those students pursung legal studies, and paralegal work.

Garner's book helps to answer the many lawyer questions you get asked when trying to write legal documents or multiple-user documents in Plain Talk. Garner's approach reinforces Plain Talk and shows ways around the mountains of "What if?" and "How can we say it without risk?" issues. Because of its publication date, it lacks the most recent changes in punctuation as found in The Gregg Reference Manual. Also, some courts want things written according to their own "Red/Green" book standards. Even with these detractors, the book provides excellent advice, examples, and exercises.