A legal writer creates contracts, agreements, memoranda, and other documents that require legal terminology. They may write for legal firms or their websites or work as freelancers to build a legal background.
As a legal writer, you research, draft, and edit content for and about the legal industry. You must analyze your target audience and tailor your legal document or publication to them. Legal writing involves in-depth knowledge of law and excellent research skills.
You may have to study and summarize case law, analyze industry events, give legal advice, draft contracts, and create other technical legal writing documents. It depends on the legal industry emphasis you choose.
Given the immense demand for many types of legal writing, a legal writer has a lot of job opportunities if they possess in-depth knowledge. There is a broad range of legal writing jobs available. It varies by your legal research skills, requirements of the legal industry area, and your knowledge about legal topics.
If you want to learn more via video, watch the video below. Otherwise, skip ahead.
What is Legal Writing?
Legal writing analyzes patterns and presents arguments in briefs and memos. It supports the legal industry through legal analysis, presentation of arguments, and actual drafting.
Types of Legal Writing
There are a few main types of legal writing:
- Analyzing a legal problem or issue. For example, as a legal writer, you might write letters to clients to inform them about the status of their case or to other lawyers and opposing parties.
- Presenting a persuasive case. You might research and incorporate relevant legal precedents while making a case on a specific legal issue.
- Drafting legal documents. You might prepare legally binding documents such as wills or contracts as a legal writer.
The most common legal writing jobs are brief writers, legal analysts, legal correspondents, feature writers, web writers, corporate writers, and legal editors.
Brief Writers
Brief writers create legal briefs, including details about a law case, statement, argument, dispute concern, and other information. In legal writing, briefs state why the claim must win or lose and why the order must be granted or reversed. A legal writer writes down vital information, such as briefs, legal memoranda, motions, and other legal documents. Brief writers work for lawyers or law firms.
Qualifications: As a brief writer, you must have a college degree. In some cases, you may also need experience in the field to become a legal writer specializing in briefs.
Legal Analysts
A legal analyst, also known as a legal assistant, must stay informed of laws and legal ideas. Legal writers work to analyze cases, conduct research, and gather data. They also draft contracts, memos, file litigations, and other legal documents. As a legal analyst, you may also write news summaries and analyze the industry’s latest developments for online legal websites.
Qualification: To become a legal writer and analyst, you should have a law degree and some experience in the field. But, you do not need to be a licensed attorney. It also helps to have a credible certification like the one from Technical Writer HQ.
Legal Correspondents
Correspondents are legal professionals who report on news related to criminal justice or other legal matters. Legal correspondents differ from general news analysts because news analysts work for broadcasting networks.
Qualification: Writers must know how to navigate the court system and know which details are valued by that audience. To become a legal writer and correspondent, you must usually be an attorney with an eye for detail while conducting legal analysis.
Feature Writers
Feature writers write for journals and magazines in the legal industry. The magazines may have news about the latest industry events, information for attorneys, and advice for lawyers and law firms. Some common examples include the ABA Journal by the American Bar Association. As a feature writer, you must write compelling narratives that interest the reader and grab their attention. Feature articles can be opinion pieces on legal matters that pertain to a particular place, person, or event.
Qualifications: To be a feature writer, you must have good writing skills and legal knowledge to conduct research. That is because such legal professionals often have to write about trends, facts, and the latest happenings in the legal industry.
Web Content Legal Writers
A web writer, or a legal content writer, will write for law firm websites or other law-based internet sites that feature legal content. Online publications and blogs are a great place to aim your career if you want to discuss the latest legal events or legal topics. Legal web writers can also write how-to blogs for these online publications to educate readers about legal issues.
Qualifications: To be a web writer, you must have basic legal knowledge of terms and outstanding research skills. You must also know how to write web copy for SEO.
Corporate Writers
The purpose of a corporate writer is to be the medium of communication between a company and its audience. Such writers must be well-versed in legal matters and maintain a tone of voice that matches their corporation. They handle legal work for law firms and other businesses.
Some types of documents that corporate writers create are:
- Press releases
- Annual reports
- Business letters
- White papers
- Leaflets and brochures
- Educational material
- Marketing copy
Qualifications: Corporate writers must have a degree the legal industry recognizes related to business law to match the requirements of most firms.
Legal Editors
Legal editors are responsible for reviewing, editing, and proofreading an organization’s legal publications. They ensure the documents align with the company’s standards and current laws. You are well-suited for this legal industry career if you are a strong communicator, enjoy law, and have an eye for detail. Legal editors play an essential role in the final release of legal publications. The publications may be for law firms and can come in many forms, such as papers, pages, blogs, or magazine articles.
Qualifications: To become a legal editor, you must have a law degree, strong researching skills, and excellent communication skills.
Education Requirements
While the exact qualifications may differ between the different types of legal writers, you must have a college degree to become a legal writer.
While some specific types of legal writing jobs may need a law-specific degree, all are different. More technical writers will require a deep understanding of terms, processes, and complex legal ideas, making a law degree valuable. In less technical jobs, employers prefer a degree in journalism, communication, or another related field.
How to Become a Legal Writer
This step-by-step process will help you pave the way in your technical writing career as a legal writer.
Decide on a Type of Legal Writing
Before you set out to get a degree, learn all the different types of legal writing. Some professions, such as legal brief writing and analysis, may demand a law degree. Less technical legal writing, such as feature articles, does not necessarily require a law degree.
Bachelor’s Degree
You need a Bachelor’s degree to work in legal writing. Depending on your area of focus, you may opt for a degree in law, business, journalism, or communication.
Gain Legal Industry Experience
A law firm will prefer writers with experience. You can practice legal writing through technical writing internships or freelance writing jobs to polish your skills and make you stand out.
Build a Legal Documents Portfolio
Before you apply for a job, you must build a portfolio of samples. Use any work experience you have to develop a strong portfolio. If you don’t yet have much experience, create example pieces to show potential employers.
Wrap Up
A legal writer creates documents for lawyers, courts, magazines, newspapers, and corporations. No matter what type of legal writing you pursue, technical writing skills like research, communication, and organization are necessary.
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about legal writing.
What are the key legal concepts every student at law schools should understand?
Every law student must grasp fundamental legal concepts to succeed academically and professionally. These concepts serve as the building blocks for studying various branches of law, including principles like liability, negligence, and due process. Schools provide a curriculum that introduces these concepts through case studies, theoretical analysis, and practical application. Understanding these concepts deeply enhances a student’s ability to think critically and argue effectively in legal matters.
How important is written communication in the legal profession?
Communication involves the precise articulation of arguments and the clear presentation of facts and legal theories. Professionals in the field must draft documents that withstand scrutiny from opposing parties and the courts. Schools emphasize developing these skills because they are crucial for drafting contracts, court documents, and legal correspondence. Effective written communication ensures that the intent and meaning of legal arguments are understood and upheld.
How does mastery of legal language benefit law students at Harvard Law School?
Mastery of legal vocabulary is crucial for law students, particularly at prestigious institutions like Harvard Law School. Understanding and using legal terminology accurately allows students to communicate complex legal concepts. This proficiency not only aids in academic performance through precise, compelling written and oral communication but also prepares students for real-world legal practice where clarity and accuracy are paramount. The rigorous training in legal language ensures that students can navigate the legal profession’s intricate landscape.
How does the use of passive voice affect the writing of appellate briefs?
Using passive voice in appellate briefs can significantly impact the clarity and persuasiveness of legal arguments. While passive voice is sometimes criticized for obscuring the actor in a sentence, it can also be strategically employed to focus more on the action or the recipient rather than the doer. However, excessive passive constructions can make the document less engaging and harder to follow. Law schools often train students to use active voice predominantly to foster direct and forceful written communication, particularly effective in appellate briefs where clear articulation of issues and arguments is crucial.
What role does a faculty member play in teaching balanced analysis?
Law school faculty members play a pivotal role in teaching students how to conduct a balanced analysis of legal issues. A balanced analysis is essential for understanding and arguing all sides of a legal issue, a skill crucial for law practice. Faculty members guide students through examining legal problems from multiple perspectives, using a mix of theoretical and practical exercises. This approach enhances critical thinking and reasoning skills and prepares students to handle the complexities of legal practice, where multiple factors and viewpoints must be considered to achieve just outcomes.
If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break-in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course, where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.
