Legal Writing 101

Lawyers are writers. In the February 2026 Illinois Bar Journal, Justice Michael B. Hyman of the First District Illinois Appellate Court reminds us that effective advocacy begins with clear writing. Judges may be reading in the narrow gaps of their crowded schedules, and our job is to make that reading as effortless as possible.

Clarity isn’t optional — it’s part of the work. Use names instead of pronouns. Lead with a crisp issue statement. Cut unnecessary adverbs. Focus on the governing rule rather than the legal archaeology unless history changes the outcome. Above all, be direct.

When we write clearly, we advocate well