Search Results for: practice
Toward an integrated framework for evaluating plain language
Published in The Clarity Journal 76 – 2018 By Neil James and Susan Kleimann No one could object to the evaluation of texts to assess their quality and effectiveness. Many evaluation methods exist, from readability formulas and expert reviews to usability tests and the analysis of outcomes. Yet in recent years, a divide has developed […]
Notice me – communicating patient privacy rights through effective notices
Published in The Clarity Journal 75 – 2017 Penelope Hughes and Maya Frazier Privacy plays a vital role in society, and the concept of health information privacy has persisted for a particularly long time, with providers’ obligation to protect the privacy of their patients dating back to the Oath of Hippocrates. Even in today’s world, […]
Plain language in legal agreements: is it safe?
Published in The Clarity Journal 56 – Nov.2016 Speech by Lord Justice Rix Clarity seminar at Denton Wilde Sapte 10 October 2006 I am very grateful to the organisers of this event for bringing me face to face with the subject matter of this talk. At first I received the invitation with some pleasure: it […]
Recent developments in contract drafting techniques
Published in The Clarity Journal 73 – 2015 There is an ever-increasing need and demand from the public for information that is accessible, transparent, and easy to understand. When we view contracts as working documents—binding guides to action rather than legal records, we write to engage people to read and understand them, improve commercial relationships, […]
You think lawyers are good drafters?
Published in The Clarity Journal 73 – 2015 By Joseph Kimble No, I’m sorry, but most lawyers are not skilled drafters. It doesn’t matter how smart or experienced they are or how many legal documents they have drafted. Most — a supermajority, probably — are lacking. And yet, oddly enough, while they tend to be […]
Judicial decisions: acts of communication
Published in The Clarity Journal 71 – 2014 Number 29, page 11, December 1993 This article also appeared in the December 1993 edition of the Judicial Officers Bulletin of New South Wales In giving a decision we are communicating the law. We are drawing on our training and knowledge to make the law available to […]
The Clarity Journal 69
In this issue : Trying to change the institutional culture:the European Commission’s clear writing campaign Start a plain language program at your organization USCIS plain language program Striving for clarity: the General Service Administration’s steps towards plain language The IRS and plain writing—challenges and accomplishments for a taxing situation Texas pattern jury charges—plain language revisions […]
The Clarity Journal 66
In this issue : The role of plain language in the writing training of law students Public power: putting the case for the lay reader Working with lawyers on your projects The design and implementation of a plain Spanish writing-skills programme for Argentina’s leading law firm Teaching judgment writing in Canada A most dangerous clause: […]
Ensnaring perceptions on communication: Underlying obstacles to lawyers writing plainly
Published in The Clarity Journal 62 – 2009 Dr Robert Eagleson Down the centuries, lawyers have regularly been the butt of criticism and cruel jokes be- cause of the convoluted way they write. From certain perspectives these unfavourable judgements are appropriate and fair; yet, in over 30 years experience working closely with lawyers, I have […]
The Clarity Journal 59
In this issue : The building blocks on Wessel’s website: the Amsterdam challenge Setting the standard: some steps toward a plain language profession Strong, cautious support: Clarity’s position on standards and accreditation International plain language standards— the view from the Center for Plain Language Writing by numbers: are readability formulas to clarity what karaoke is […]