The presentation by Maj Gen Nilendra Kumar emphasizes the importance of effective communication in legal writing, highlighting it as a skill that can be learned and improved. It discusses the types and formats of legal documents, the necessity of understanding the audience, and best practices for drafting, including clarity, organization, and adherence to formalities. Additionally, the presentation addresses the importance of using appropriate legal terminology and resources to enhance legal writing.

2. A presentation by
Maj Gen Nilendra Kumar
Director
Amity Law School, Noida
At
Technical session of the NIRC of ICSI

3. Presentation at Management Skill
Orientation Programme
6th March 2014

4. The first object of writing is to communicate
Communication is the key to success.
Brilliant ideas in the brain need to be expressed by the way of
communications.
Communication is a skill that one can learn. It‟s like riding a
bicycle or typing. If one is willing to work at it, one can rapidly
improve
.

5. It is the type of technical writing
Used by lawyers, judges, legislators and others connected
with law.

6. Creates binding legal text

7. To advocate for, or to express the resolution of a client‟s
legal matter.

8. Legal document means a document that states some
contractual relationship or grants some right.

9.  Affidavits
 Agreement
 Arbitration
 Bonds
 Compromise and family
settlement
 Foreign collaboration
 Gift
 Hire purchase
 Indemnity
 Lease & License
 Mortgage & Pledge
 Notice
 Opinion
 Partition
 Partnership
 Power of Attorney
 Sale
 Will

10. 1. Articles of incorporation
2. Bill of landing
3. Debenture
4. Negotiable Instrument
5. Power of Attorney
6. Ship‟s Papers

11. “You can change your world by changing your words.
Remember, death and life are in power of tongue.”
-Joel Osteen

12. 1. Authority (statutes or citation)
2. Precedent
3. Vocabulary
4. Formality

13. Formal writing is the opposite of the style adopted on
mobile phone text messages or on social media

14. Legal force behind the assertion

15. 1. Remember your audience
2. Organize your writing
3. Write short sentences and use simple English
4. Avoid the legalese
5. Use action words
6. Avoid passive voice
7. Avoid adjectives
8. Edit ruthlessly

16. To know your audience implies for whom the document is
being prepared. It could be trial court, appellate court,
client, customer or government office etc.

17. Educate the reader what is coming.
Strive to explain in a logical and sequential manner.

18. Need to know concept as against adopting a post office
approach.

19. 1. Collect all relevant matter
2. Arrange in proper sequence
3. Check if any essential matter is left out
4. Cross check if the document is complete

20. Adhere to the form where it is so required.
To illustrate how the documents are to be prepared for a High
Court

21. Proceedings how written-
1. Shall be in English
2. Fairly and legibly written, typed or printed in double spacing on one side
of standard petition paper with an inner margin of about 4 centimeters
width on top and on the left side.
3. Paragraphs shall be divided into paragraphs. And numbered consequently
as nearly as may be an separate allegation.
Ref Chapter III

22. 1. Long sentences
2. Complex construction
3. Archaic and hyper formal vocabulary
4. Focus on the content to the exclusion of reader‟s need

23. Avoid use of formal text

24. Divide your text into a number of paragraphs. Introduce
each paragraph with a topic sentence. Use heading and
sub-headings to deal with a specific aspect.

25.  Dispatch
 Supply
 Cancel
 Appoint
 Purchase
 Appeal
 Negotiate
 Regret
 Confirm
 Shift
 Meet
 Reduce

26. It is the transfer of the legal title of property from one
person to another or the granting of an encumbrance such
as mortgage or lien.

27. 1. Indian conveyancer by JM Srivastava and GC Mogha.
2. Desouza‟s Conveyancing by CR Datta and MN Das
3. A Practical Approach to Conveyancing by Robert Abbey and Mark
Richards
4. Hargopal: The Indian Draftsman by Dr. Rajesh Gupta

28. Example-
1. We were affected by the news “we were devastated by the
news” instead of “we were relieved by the news”
2. Governmental income support to poor residents, in place of
„welfare‟

29. Keep a Law dictionary or Law lexican readily available.
A few standard Law Dictionaries-
1. Black‟s Law Dictionary
2. Wharton‟s Law Lexicon
3. Bouvier‟s Law Dictionary
4. Letric Law Lexicon
5. P Ramanatha Aiyar‟s
LEXICAN
means a stock of terms used in a particular profession

30. Make liberal use of search engines to cross check
references authorities and citations.

31. 1. SCC on line
2. Manupatra
3. West Law
4. Indian Kanoon
5. Law Khoj
6. Open Juris
7. Quicklaw

32. Learn correct use of foot notes and end notes etc.

33. It means in the same source (use to save space in textual
reference to a quoted work which has been mentioned in a
previous reference) ibid is abbreviated as id.

34. It is an academic and legal citation signal used when a writer
desires to refer a reader to an earlier cited authority.
Supra is used as an internal cross reference to guide the reader
between parts of a document.
Example:
See supra note 3

35. It may be advisable
to use
Handbook on Clinical Legal Education
By
Maj Gen Nilendra Kumar
Publishers: Universal Law Publishing Co

36. 1. Statutory- Constitution, Act, Rules, Regulations, By
laws, Circular etc.
2. Judicial- Citation
3. Academic/ Professional

37. It means legal writing that is very difficult for laymen to
read and understand.

38. A citation is a reference to a published or unpublished
source.

39. Text Citation
An abbreviated alphanumeric expression embedded in the
body of an intellectual work that denotes an entry in the
bibliographic reference section of the work for the purpose of
acknowledging the relevance of the work of others to the topic
od discussion at the spot where the citation appears.

40. 1. H M Seervai, Constitutional Law of India, 2nd edn,
Vol I Tripathi, 1976
2. N A Palkhivala (1984); We, the People of India- The
Largest Democracy, Bombay Strand Book Stall
3. Wade & Forsyth, Administrative Law (2009) 771

41. 1. Presidency Small Causes Courts Act, 1882, Sec 18
2. Order 39, Rule 1 and 2
3. CPC (Amendment) Act, 2002 (22 of 2002), Sec 12(a)

42. An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example
or guide to be considered.
It means the way things have been done before.

43. These are re-usable documents templates

44. Legal drafting requires an eye for detail and constant
practice. Law students are advised to make sincere efforts
to learn it during their programme of studies.

45. THANK YOU