Why choose this skills course?

By writing clearly and precisely, you will avoid misunderstandings and claims, save time and costs relating to reviewing and writing documents, and promote good relations. This course will help you to develop the necessary skills and to write with impact. If you’re a solicitor, it will also help you to meet or maintain the SRA competence standard on communicating effectively in writing.

What will you achieve?

You will be able to

• • spot and avoid both common and your own writing issues 
  • understand and start adopting guidelines for effective legal writing
  • brush up on some grammar and punctuation

 To further develop your skills, you will receive a set of best-practice guidelines with a checklist for use in the office.

What will we cover?

• • Writing for your reader and for your purpose
  • Planning and structuring, including getting to the point and ordering ideas and information logically
  • Ensuring completeness of content and language
  • Keeping it short and simple, including short sentences, active and passive voice, syntax, and word choice
  • Writing with impact
  • Brushing up on your punctuation
  • Proofreading for common grammar errors and spelling

What exercises will you do? 

You will complete exercises throughout, to draw out best-practice guidelines and to practise writing, with the benefit of trainer monitoring and group feedback.
Exercises will include analysing and rewriting poorly drafted legal letters, emails or report extracts.