Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Practice

Talking to Lawyers About Words
Sandra Bekhor

Accountants are trained in numbers. Architects are trained in design. And lawyers are trained in words. As a lawyer, when you speak or write, you choose your words judiciously. Am I right? Every. Single. Word. Means. Something. Very. Specific. That is all well and good when it comes to serving clients as a lawyer. Not as well or good when it comes . . . [more]

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

4 Questions to Ask About Any Database (Part 4)
Ken Fox – Law Society of Saskatchewan Library

This is the fourth and final part of a series on questions you should ask about any electronic research source. Catch parts 1-3 of this series here, here and here. 4. How are the results ORDERED? Don’t assume relevance ranking. Our databases, for example, always order the results in reverse . . . [more]

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

Accentuating the Negative
Neil Guthrie

Multiple negatives: In grammar, the general rule is that you shouldn’t use two negatives. It’s incorrect to say I didn’t see no one, although people will know what you mean. The correct thing is, obviously, I didn’t see anyone. Contractual drafters like to avoid double negatives because they give rise to ambiguity. The concern isn’t so much over a sentence like I . . . [more]

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

Creating a Complete History of Legislation
Susannah Tredwell

The easiest way to create a history of an act is to start with the most recent version of the legislation and work your way backwards. Going forward tends to be more complicated. Depending on your jurisdiction and how far back you need to go, you may be able to do this entirely using electronic resources. … . . . [more]

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

And/or, And, Or
Neil Guthrie

And/or: The construction and/or is criticised by grammarians, prose stylists and many legal drafters (both contractual and statutory). There are good reasons for this. H.W. Fowler called and/or an ‘ugly device’….

Practice

7 Social Media Tips for 2017
Andrea Cannavina

Today’s tip is simply to share some basic reminders for making the most of your social media this coming year. 1. There . . . [more]

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

4 Questions to Ask About Any Database (Part 3)
Ken Fox – Law Society of Saskatchewan Library

This is part 3 of a series on questions you should ask about any electronic research source. Did you miss parts 1 & 2? Find them here and here. What is the Search SYNTAX? …

Practice

New Government, New Tax Changes. Here’s What You Need to Know About Tax in . . . [more]

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

Shall, Will, Should, Would, May, Might, Must
Neil Guthrie

A reader’s suggestion, this. Good idea, even though it’s more of a contractual drafting or opinions point than a general legal writing tip. Shall, will and must: The difference is to a large extent idiomatic – that is, subject more to instinct and feel than hard-and-fast grammatical rules. …

Practice

Think Twice: The Vengeful Client (Part 2 of . . . [more]