{"id":14644,"date":"2021-06-17T03:55:03","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T03:55:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/?p=14644"},"modified":"2026-06-17T12:18:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T12:18:53","slug":"improve-legal-documents-clarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/blog\/improve-legal-documents-clarity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Proven 3-Step Formula to Improve Your Legal Document\u2019s Clarity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There is a famous saying by Albert Einstein that goes, \u201cIf you can\u2019t explain it simply, you don\u2019t understand it well enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Simplicity is important. Simplicity in language means there is clear communication between two parties. If you think about it, if you understand a topic enough, even the most complex subjects should be simplified enough so a fifth-grader understands. (This is backed up by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visiblethread.com\/2019\/12\/readability-whats-behind-the-flesch-reading-ease-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">readability research<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>On one hand, clients seeking an attorney\u2019s help are already going through a stressful situation that requires legal action. On the other hand, law firms today face the constant battle between simple language and legalese. This puts clients in an even more stressful situation.<\/p>\n<p>But leaving clients unclear of what they can expect with your firm is a preventable pain.<\/p>\n<p>Your actions matter. And within the legal industry, your words matter just as much. Continue reading as we unravel a new formula that\u2019ll help your legal writing become understandable for all audiences.<\/p>\n<h2>A Linguistic Barrier Between Firms and Clients<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14651 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-meeting-discussion.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"792\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-meeting-discussion.png 792w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-meeting-discussion-300x94.png 300w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-meeting-discussion-768x240.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/>\n<p>Before diving into the proven process, it\u2019s important to look back at the historical relationship between law firms and clients.<\/p>\n<p>It is undeniable that clear communication is a must between law firms and their clients. But, without a clear communication strategy, law firms cannot expect clients to confidently take the right steps towards succeeding in their legal endeavors.<\/p>\n<p>On top of this, the legal industry is changing. In the past, law firms have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/markcohen1\/2019\/10\/07\/big-money-is-betting-on-legal-industry-transformation\/?sh=745ab6aa5ce2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inward-facing<\/a>. Clients now have a very important say within the legal industry, and hugely impact a firm\u2019s reviews and overall reputation online. Clients want to see law firms as a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2335\">service<\/a> that embraces all aspects of technological, business, and legal expertise. Whether you get knocks on your door and calls to your phone with new business all depends on what your online presence looks like.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, one of the main changes within the legal industry is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalbusinessworld.com\/post\/why-lawyers-should-embrace-plain-language-and-how-to-do-so\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">plain English movement<\/a>. This movement focuses on \u201cwording that is clear and understandable to its intended reader.\u201d Clients want clarity and they want law firms to embrace this as well.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/markcohen1\/2020\/03\/03\/the-legal-industry-needs-a-standardized-vocabulary-even-if-legalese-remains\/?sh=21eba4e92721\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Resisting industry changes<\/a> like this can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Confuse the clients and the legal ecosystem.<\/li>\n<li>Discourage professionals entering the legal industry.<\/li>\n<li>Deny the clients the opportunity to better understand the legal industry.<\/li>\n<li>Impede the client\u2019s complete and clear decision-making process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your clients call the shots. They are looking at your website, reviews, and your digital presence.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important the legal industry learns how to adapt to its clients\u2019 wants and needs.<\/p>\n<h2>Increase Impact and Clarity In Your Law Firm<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14653 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/law-firm-effectiveness-guide.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"792\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/law-firm-effectiveness-guide.png 792w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/law-firm-effectiveness-guide-300x94.png 300w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/law-firm-effectiveness-guide-768x240.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/>\n<p>Let\u2019s be real. As a society, there is a level of expectation when it comes to lawyers and law firms.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t take it from us. Lawyers are in fact expected, \u201cto come to the table with bigger words\u201d. This is quoted from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EXK7Z54MqWc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Judge Robert Bacharach\u2019s podcast episode<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Robert_Bacharach\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Judge Robert Bacharach<\/a> from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently sat down with us and shared insights of his latest book, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/products\/inv\/book\/398866415\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Legal Writing: A Judge\u2019s Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many years of experience and research led to this incredibly insightful book. It can be seen as a bridge between legal communication and the new plain English movement. He explains that the plain English movement is the first effective effort to change the way legal documents are written.<\/p>\n<p>To briefly note, three action guides law firms can follow are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Contextualizing any details before the reader actually gets to the details of the document.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>If there\u2019s too much detail, the reader will be lost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Simplifying your wording.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>As Judge Robert Bacharach adds, \u201calso using $64 words when a $2 word would work just as well,\u201d is simplifying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Linking information.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>He adds that law firms should \u201ccreate meaningful chunks of information.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Through generations, law firms have written documents for clients at a level that the average population does not understand. This is also why Judge Robert Bacharach adds that law firms should place themselves \u201cin the shoes of someone who is not familiar with the content.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Embracing the Legal Industry\u2019s Shift in Language<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14655 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/business-meeting-document-review.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/business-meeting-document-review.png 800w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/business-meeting-document-review-300x93.png 300w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/business-meeting-document-review-768x239.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\n<p>Language is a big part of the legal community. Language is also complex. Arguably, the legal industry handles some of the most complex languages amongst all other industries!<\/p>\n<p>On one hand, <a href=\"https:\/\/termly.io\/resources\/articles\/legalese\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legalese<\/a> can quickly turn into \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.cambridge.org\/dictionary\/english\/gobbledegook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gobbledegook<\/a>\u201d for clients and prospects. Here\u2019s an example:, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.academia.edu\/6162313\/Essential_Latin_Legal_Terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legal Latin terms<\/a> such as \u201cCestui que trust\u201d hold no meaning to clients.<\/p>\n<p>These are barriers to clear communication between a firm and its clients and prospects. Clients want to be assured of a clear strategy of action, clear steps to take, and clear language.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Robert Bacharach reiterates this with the use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/psycholinguistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">psycholinguistics<\/a>, the psychological study of language. Within the use of psycholinguistics, he notes that it\u2019s vital law firms take into account:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Clients \u2013 Who is your law firm speaking to? Can this person understand the legal document?<\/li>\n<li>Sequence \u2013 What steps do you want the client to take? Is this clearly communicated?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalbusinessworld.com\/post\/why-lawyers-should-embrace-plain-language-and-how-to-do-so\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">firm\u2019s language<\/a> can also improve by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Replacing the big words<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/readable.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Testing the readability<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Getting a creative format (Example: lists, bullet points)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Communication is a Two-Way Street<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14657 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-discussion-office-setting.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"792\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-discussion-office-setting.png 792w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-discussion-office-setting-300x94.png 300w, https:\/\/www.consultwebs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/professional-discussion-office-setting-768x240.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/>\n<p>Although lawyers face the expectation to come with the \u201cbig words\u201d it is best to say that when it comes to clientele communication, clarity will always win over legal jargon.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, clients want to know if you will be able to help them with their problems. In order to do so, they need to truly understand what you are trying to tell them, and the more simplified you can get your point across, the more likely it is that you will win them over.<\/p>\n<p>Clarity can be your firm\u2019s differentiating factor.<\/p>\n<p>Learn how your firm can build a clear client-centric communication strategy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is a famous saying by Albert Einstein that goes, \u201cIf you can\u2019t explain it simply, you don\u2019t understand it well enough.\u201d Simplicity is important. Simplicity in language means there is clear communication between two parties. If you think about it, if you understand a topic enough, even the most complex subjects should be simplified [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1483862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[366],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-marketing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>3-Step Formula to Improve your Legal Document\u2019s Clarity - Consultwebs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Simplicity in language means there is clear communication between two parties. 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