LPD & Events

LAWS6950 - Plain English in Legal Writing

Objectives

Analyse the role of plain English in legal writing, with particular emphasis on contract drafting, property documents, statutes, and advice-writing.
Examine the reasons for the 'traditional' style of legal writing, the research into the advantages and disadvantages of plain English, and the techniques for writing law in plain English.

Content

Assumptions behind using plain English in law; the problems with terms of art and judicially-defined words and phrases; the causes of ambiguities in legal documents; aspects of document design.

Session

Semester 2 Intensive
28 October - 1 November 2013

The timetable is subject to frequent changes. Please refer to the latest version of the Postgraduate Timetable.

Assessment

Class Participation, including Drafting Assignments (20%)
1 x 4,000 Word Assignment (40%)
1 x 4,000 Word Substantial Drafting Exercise (40%)

Assumed Knowledge

Undergraduate law degree, completed legal studies as part of a business or commerce degree or LAWS6252 Legal Reasoning & the Common Law System

Legal Professional Development (LPD)

You can credit this unit towards Legal Professional Development (LPD). Units of study that are part of Sydney Law School’s Postgraduate Program meet the necessary Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) of the Law Society of New South Wales and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements of the New South Wales Bar Association. You may complete this unit of study by enrolling on a non-degree basis or on an audit basis only with no assessment via Single Unit Enrolment.