The Assumptions Beyond Plain Legal Language

Abstract:     
This article is based on a lecture on plain legal language delivered in Hong Kong in February 2002. The author provides an overview of the movement towards using plain language in legal documents, and discusses certain assumptions made in deciding to use plain legal language. He provides evidence to support the propositions that it is possible to express legal concepts in plain language effectively, that plain legal language can save money, and that judges and clients prefer plain language. Overall, the article provides an introduction to the principles and concepts underlying the plain language movement.

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