The Elements of Legal Style

Brian Garner is Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious Black's Law Dictionary, but his approach here is anything but stodgy. This book, published by Oxford University Press, looks at legal style in language. It includes his own set of 'rules' for usage, some of which will be familiar to most. As well, it has a marvelous section explaining carefully correct usages. One example: "Words and Expressions Confused and Misused." Garner also discusses "Speaking Legally" and "Expressive Tactics" - such as precisely when it is useful to repeat, in what ways tactics can be made more expressive, and how best to put forth a legal argument. He concludes with a sparkling collection of legal quotations on style. This is an excellent purchase for someone (1) looking for advanced-direction in legal English usage for writing and presentation, and (2) interested in learning to love legal writing more. Garner's examples are well-selected, and it has a full listing of the content topics inside the front and back covers, giving it a ready-reference quality. Quite readable, too, for such heady and easily boring stuff.

You do not want to write like Brian Garner. He sounds like William F. Buckley, Jr. reading the phone book through Stephen Hawking's voice synthesizer. I found myself paying more attention to the author's ecclectic phrase choices and mincing composition than his message. Garner weighs the advantanges of the spare "Attic" style of writing (Holmes) against the florid "asiatic" style (Cardozo), then somehow manages to adopt the worst of both of them.

(And did he really just say "asiatic?")

As a member and fan of the "California" school of legal writing (Kozinski) and rhetoric (Nancy Grace), I admit my distaste for this book is personal. The information itself is valuable. However, the content here overlaps substantially with "The Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style (2d Ed.)." As a day-to-day reference work, that book is a much better bang for your buck.

I am a physician who tested out of all college English to focus on science. Writing chart notes, scientific articles, or even parts of textbooks does not prepare one for the type of writing one must do when performing legal work.

Scientific-technical writing, legal writing, or the best-selling novel all require different writing styles. Mr. Garner's book must be a help to law students based on other reviews but importantly to me; it is very accessable to those who have never attended law school.

Legal style is a "style" that is important in the profession of law. If you do any work in this area at all, whether it is on the stand or writing essays, it behooves the non-lawyer to read this book. So, even though I agree with the glowing reviews from lawyers, this book may be even more important to those of us who must do legal work but have never been to law school.

In short, this is the first and only style guide that I have ever been excited to continue reading and share with others. It has really improved my writing.

First introduced to Bryan A. Garner at one of his brief writing seminar, several years ago, I have since been a loyal reader of his works.

This book is (1) a reference book, (2) an invaluable resource, (3) more than just a grammar or style book ever thought of being, (4) chocked full of historical information and legal literary quotes, (5) presented in a humorous and accessible manner, and (6) the standard to which all legal writers should aspire.

Poor writing and the use of legalese have always been bug-a-boos of mine. And, over the lifetime of my legal practice, having to slave over thousands of statutes, briefs, decisions, motions, etc., has only intensified my belief that too few lawyers know how to write well, and that the legal profession should abolish the use of legalese from the practice of law.

In Mr. Garner, I have found a champion. In "The Elements of Legal Style", writers wishing to take their craft beyond the stars will find a valuable cache of information that will lay the foundations to improve their writing and persuading skills. He shows you how to remove the legalese from your writing, how to make your writing dynamic and exciting, and how to use your writing to better persuade. This book, along with "The Winning Brief", should be the foundation of your arsenal of writing tools.