RALEIGH, N.C. – Campbell Law School Assistant Professor of Law Amy Flanary-Smith took part in the 22nd-annual “Public Law for the Public’s Lawyers” event sponsored by UNC School of Government on Friday, Oct. 4. Flanary-Smith’s presentation, “Lawyers Writing for Non-Lawyers,” discussed the history of lawyers’ writing styles, what the “plain language” movement has meant for lawyers and their clients, and techniques lawyers can use to measure and improve the readability of their writing.
“Lawyers have reputations, particularly among non-lawyers, for being less than clear in their writing,” said Flanary-Smith. “We can employ techniques, though, to make our writing clearer and more easily understood by all audiences. Lawyers working in government often are writing for a primary audience of non-lawyers, and they were particularly interested in hearing about ways to ensure both accuracy and clarity.“
The two-day program, which provided continuing-legal education credit to participating members of the N.C. State Bar, included more than 100 members of legislatives staffs, and attorneys working for and with state and local governments, and the state university system. Additional topics included a legislative overview, electronic records requests, education reform, the rulemaking process, and ethics.
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Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law School has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. The school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 3,500 alumni, including more than 2,400 who reside and work in North Carolina. In September 2009, Campbell Law relocated to a state-of-the-art building in downtown Raleigh. For more information, visit http://law.campbell.edu.
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