You’re a Lawyer, but are you a Writer?
The Power of the Pen in the Legal Profession
In the popular imagination, lawyers are known for their courtroom eloquence, cross-examinations, and fiery closing arguments. Yet, for most legal professionals, the bulk of their work happens far from the spotlight—at a desk, in front of a screen, wrestling with words. Contracts, motions, pleadings, memos, emails: the law is, at its core, a language profession. Which begs the question: you’re a lawyer, but are you a writer?
The Legal Profession Is a Writing Profession
Few careers are as dependent on the written word as the legal field. Lawyers don’t just write; they argue through writing. Whether you’re drafting a contract, a legal brief, or an email to a client, your words are shaping outcomes. Your precision, tone, structure, and style can sway a judge, clarify a dispute, or protect a business for decades. In law, sloppy writing isn’t just unprofessional—it can be dangerous.
But writing in the legal context is more than just putting together persuasive sentences. It’s about using language as a tool to reason, to advocate, and to prevent conflict. This is why legal writing is a discipline in itself—part art, part science.
Why Legal Writing Often Falls Short
Despite its importance, many lawyers struggle with their writing. Law school trains students to analyze and argue, but not always to communicate clearly. The result? Dense memos, jargon-heavy contracts, and briefs that bury the lead. Somewhere between the IRAC structure and the Bluebook citations, clarity can get lost.
Judges have long lamented poor writing in the courtroom. Clients get overwhelmed by incomprehensible contracts. Even fellow attorneys sometimes can’t make sense of a colleague’s argument. The issue isn’t intellect—lawyers are typically among the most educated professionals—but approach. Many treat legal writing as a technical task rather than a craft.
Becoming a Legal Writer, Not Just a Legal Technician
So what does it mean to be not just a lawyer who writes, but a writer who practices law?
It means recognizing that writing is not an administrative duty but a form of advocacy. It means cultivating voice, structure, and rhythm. It means revising ruthlessly, simplifying boldly, and putting the reader (whether it’s a judge, client, or colleague) first. It means mastering the art of storytelling—because even legal arguments benefit from a compelling narrative arc.
It also means stepping outside the legal silo. Read fiction. Read great journalism. Read writers who make complex ideas sing on the page. The better your general writing, the better your legal writing will become.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
In an age of AI tools, chatbots, and templates, the ability to write well is becoming a distinguishing feature—not a baseline skill. Generative technology can summarize case law and generate draft clauses, but it cannot (yet) replicate human judgment, nuance, and the emotional intelligence that good writing requires. In a competitive market, your words are your fingerprint.
Moreover, legal audiences are changing. Clients want clarity. Judges want brevity. Partners want sharp analysis in readable form. No one has time for bloated prose.
How to Sharpen Your Legal Writing
If you’re ready to level up from being a lawyer who writes to being a writer who lawyering, start here:
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Read your writing out loud. Clunky? Rewrite.
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Use plain English. If a tenth-grader wouldn’t understand it, reconsider.
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Lead with the point. Don’t bury your conclusions.
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Write with rhythm. Vary sentence length. Use transitions. Guide the reader.
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Edit twice. Once for structure, once for language.
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Study great legal writers. Think of Justice Kagan, Bryan Garner, or Antonin Scalia.
Being a great lawyer doesn’t just require knowing the law. It requires mastering the craft of writing. So ask yourself—not just for your next motion, but for your professional growth: You’re a lawyer, but are you a writer?
Because the best lawyers are both.
