The Dentons clear writing case study
The world’s largest global law firm uses StyleWriter to change the way its lawyers wrote, breaking the poor habits typically found in all legal drafting.
In a league table of clear writing style, lawyers would be in the relegation zone along with management consultants and technology professionals. The legal profession has a bad reputation when it comes to using the written word. Long and convoluted sentences, archaic expressions, wordy phrases, clauses within clauses, complex words and abstract and vague drafting are the hallmarks of typical legal documents.
Does it have to be like this? No it doesn’t. One law firm—Denton Wilde Sapte—has shown legal writing can be clear and concise.
Defining the clear writing problem
When Denton Wilde Sapte audited 400 of its documents in 2006 there was not a standard style. The firm used plain English software to measure each document. The software found writing ranging (according to the program’s Style Index) from 13—rated as excellent, to 179—rated as dreadful.
The average Style Index was 85—better than much traditional legal writing, as you would expect from a commercial law firm, but still over four times the level recommended for good style. There was no noticeable difference based on seniority—partners were scarcely better at writing than their junior colleagues.
Changing legal drafting with StyleWriter
Denton Wilde Sapte Director of Legal Training, Cathy Wilcox, realised that simply running a traditional writing course was not enough. “We had to change hearts and minds and we needed a way to guarantee everyone kept to the new, clear style. Training alone was not enough. We used Editor Software’s plain English editing software, StyleWriter.”
Changing the culture
As well as redrafting key documents, the firm wanted to change the writing style of authors. “We knew we had to change the culture so we ran half-day training sessions and used StyleWriter to help put the training ideas into practice,” says Cathy Wilcox.
“The StyleWriter software is an excellent way of reinforcing the principles of plain language. Most fee earners and many support staff have attended the training sessions and are enjoying using the software.”
Just as important has been the way senior managers and clients have reacted. So often training initiatives fail because senior people want it done the old way. But within the firm, senior partners have attended the training and encouraged staff to write in the new clear style.
The firm’s Chief Executive claimed the training was “Excellent—one of most useful courses I have attended.” The training also changed the views of sceptics: “Very relevant, even if I didn’t think I needed it beforehand.” There’s active encouragement for clear writing throughout the firm—from the top down.
You can read the full Dentons clear writing case study it is on our EditorSotfware site.
Find your membership level that matches your organization
