Substance & Style

• Citation: Vol. 93 No. 2 Pg. 32
• Publication year: 2024
• Pages: 32

Substance & Style 93 J. Kan. Bar Assn 2, 32 (2024) Kansas Bar Journal April 2024

Writing for a Team: Practical Tips To Work Smarter

By Jordan Carter, University of Kansas School of Law

To learn how to write like a lawyer, you have to write on your own. Most legal writing in law school is an individual endeavor, except for a few group assignments (which "Type A" law students always love). We have to learn the skill to identify what is good and to develop competence. As a result, what we don't get a chance to do much in law school is mirror the professional writing process that many students will experience when they're in an office. Much of the writing in the professional world exists on a team and with shared resources. As is my proclivity, I write to those of you who are newer in the profession or those who are mindful of what newcomers' experiences may be.

Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Not to betray the academic community, where we impose a strict standard for plagiarism and working with others, but I confess: The real world is different. It is not cheating to search the system. In fact, that's why offices spend money to maintain those databases — to build consistency and encourage efficiency. Consider the system an approved way of doing things in your environment.

This goes beyond formal filings like a brief. Wondering how...