More Effective Writing Makes More Effective Lawyers: Focusing on the Fundamentals

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. 

When Lawyers Write: What Can Go Wrong? 
Take a brief tour of the various ways legal writing can come up short (or long, or confusing, or...) and the writing habits and assumptions that lead so many lawyers astray.  

So, Here’s the Situation...” The Writing You Do Before You Start Writing 
Understand that some of your most important legal writing happens before your fingers ever hit the keyboard. And why would you think that a single approach to your writing best serves you, your clients, or your varied target audience(s)? 

Demystifying the Process: Four Essential Questions, and Two Key Factors 
Let’s keep it simple, shall we? Learn how to streamline your writing process by focusing first on a small number of manageable elements and see how those elements will help guide you through many of your most critical writing and editing decisions. 

15-MINUTE BREAK

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

“What’s In? What’s Out?” Complete v. Concise 
It may be the ultimate balancing act in legal writing: “How much is enough? How much is too much?” We’ll share strategies for fighting off the urge to include everything, and we’ll weigh the benefits – and occasional dangers – of leaving things out. 

A Few More Words About Getting Started: Different Strokes for Different Folks 
Do you suffer from Blank Screen Panic? You’re not alone. Getting those first words onto the screen is a daunting prospect for many lawyers. Find out if your typical way of getting started is actually the best approach for the way you write, and for any particular assignment. We’ll explore some alternatives that may be a better fit.

– Rick Horowitz; Prime Prose, LLC
Rick Horowitz is an award-winning writer skilled at communicating in a variety of formats and across a wide range of media. He’s also a nationally known writing coach and trainer whose perceptive eye and practical approach offer you immediate improvements and long-term growth. He brings a background in journalism – online, print, TV and radio – as well as law, policy, and government service. He has been a legislative assistant and principal speechwriter for a member of the congressional leadership, and a special assistant and ghostwriter for the director of a major Washington-based arts organization. Rick has captured two Emmy Awards for his TV commentary and two National Headliner Awards for his syndicated column. 

Webcast also included in the following webcast package(s):
More Effective Writing Makes More Effective Lawyers Webcast Package
May Webcast Extravaganza