Plain English for Lawyers (5th Edition) – eBook

Description

### Wydick’s Plain English for Lawyers, 5th Edition

**ISBN: 978-1-63459-123-4**
**ISBN: 978-1-63459-456-3**

For over twenty-five years, Wydick’s *Plain English for Lawyers* has stood as an essential resource for legal writing instructors, law students, practicing attorneys, and judges alike. This influential guide has garnered notable acclaim, including the prestigious Golden Pen Award from the Legal Writing Institute in January 2005, recognizing its significant contributions to the field of legal writing.

The Legal Writing Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing legal communication, comprises over 1,300 members across all American Bar Association-accredited law schools, along with international law educators, practitioners, and English language professionals. The award bestowed upon Wydick acknowledges his work as a pivotal resource that has transformed legal writing standards and championed the movement towards clarity and simplicity within the legal profession.

The LWI award’s citation praises *Plain English for Lawyers* as a “classic,” noting that it has arguably done more than any other single publication to refine and elevate the writing abilities of lawyers and law students—pushing for a modern shift towards straightforward legal language.

In 2003, Wydick concluded a dedicated 32-year tenure on the faculty of the University of California, Davis’s law school. Yet, his passion for teaching persists as he continues to lead a seminar on advanced legal writing for third-year students. Over the past eight summers, he has also imparted his knowledge at the International Legislative Drafting Institute held in New Orleans, organized by the Public Law Center—a collaborative initiative between Tulane and Loyola law schools. This program draws participants from diverse backgrounds who draft legislation in various languages, allowing Wydick to gain insights into the shared experiences of English language users and legal drafters globally.

What sets the 5th edition of *Plain English for Lawyers* apart from previous versions? While it remains a compact and easily digestible volume for law students, Wydick has integrated fresh knowledge acquired from the past seven years into this edition. He states, “Most of the textbook remains the same, but I’ve learned new techniques for writing in English that I’m eager to share with readers.” Additionally, the exercises concluding each chapter have been updated to provide a refreshing challenge for long-time educators tired of the old formats. The teacher’s manual further enriches this edition by including supplementary exercises, beneficial for law students seeking additional practice and refinement in their writing skills.

Whether you’re a law student striving to hone your writing capabilities, a practicing attorney aiming for clarity in your legal documents, or an educator looking for effective teaching tools, Wydick’s *Plain English for Lawyers* is an indispensable addition to your professional library. This book promises not only to engage but also to empower readers, fostering a culture of clear and precise legal communication that resonates across borders and languages.