The Winning Brief
A Valuable Lesson in Legal Writing
May 09, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Last Thursday, May 6th, I enrolled in a one-day writing workshop taught by the dean of legal writing -- Bryan A. Garner. Bryan is an attorney, instructor, and consultant with a deep, relentless, and obvious passion for words. His company, Law Prose, hosts several writing classes for lawyers across the country.
Because I love to write, I often enroll in Continuing Legal Education classes that focus on writing skills. Bryan’s workshop Advanced Legal Writing & Editing is on a different level than most CLE classes. Bryan’s approach is peer-to-peer rather than instructor-to-student. It’s the same approach I saw last year at Bryan’s workshop The Winning Brief.
Additionally, Bryan does not rely on his reputation as Editor-in-Chief of Black’s Law Dictionary, columnist for the On Language column in The New York Times Magazine, or esteemed author of several legal writing books. He continues to expand the education process in his workshops. Through grunt work combined with navigating red tape, Bryan secured videotaped interviews with dozens of judges and United States Supreme Court justices. They explain their views, complaints, and insights regarding brief writing. This information is simply invaluable for members of the bar.
Last month, I taught my 90-minute CLE workshop Stop Writing Like A Lawyer! at my alma mater, Villanova Law School. When I approached a classmate of mine about attending, he said that he doesn’t need a CLE course in legal writing because his practice is more than 15 years old. In his mind, experience equals skill. I think differently. If Derek Jeter can take batting practice, then I can take a skills class taught by Bryan Garner to keep my skills sharp. And if I’m lucky, I’ll learn some new strategies.
At Bryan’s Advanced Legal Writing & Editing workshop, the oldest student was 87 years old. He entered the New York bar in 1952.
I guess you really can teach new tricks to an old dog.
david@davidkrell.com
Last Thursday, May 6th, I enrolled in a one-day writing workshop taught by the dean of legal writing -- Bryan A. Garner. Bryan is an attorney, instructor, and consultant with a deep, relentless, and obvious passion for words. His company, Law Prose, hosts several writing classes for lawyers across the country.
Because I love to write, I often enroll in Continuing Legal Education classes that focus on writing skills. Bryan’s workshop Advanced Legal Writing & Editing is on a different level than most CLE classes. Bryan’s approach is peer-to-peer rather than instructor-to-student. It’s the same approach I saw last year at Bryan’s workshop The Winning Brief.
Additionally, Bryan does not rely on his reputation as Editor-in-Chief of Black’s Law Dictionary, columnist for the On Language column in The New York Times Magazine, or esteemed author of several legal writing books. He continues to expand the education process in his workshops. Through grunt work combined with navigating red tape, Bryan secured videotaped interviews with dozens of judges and United States Supreme Court justices. They explain their views, complaints, and insights regarding brief writing. This information is simply invaluable for members of the bar.
Last month, I taught my 90-minute CLE workshop Stop Writing Like A Lawyer! at my alma mater, Villanova Law School. When I approached a classmate of mine about attending, he said that he doesn’t need a CLE course in legal writing because his practice is more than 15 years old. In his mind, experience equals skill. I think differently. If Derek Jeter can take batting practice, then I can take a skills class taught by Bryan Garner to keep my skills sharp. And if I’m lucky, I’ll learn some new strategies.
At Bryan’s Advanced Legal Writing & Editing workshop, the oldest student was 87 years old. He entered the New York bar in 1952.
I guess you really can teach new tricks to an old dog.