The Role of Ethics in Legal Writing: The Forensic Embroiderer, the Minimalist Wizard, and Other Stories

Fischer, Judith D.

Abstract

Download This Paper | Share | Email |Add to Briefcase | Purchase Bound Hard Copy

The Role of Ethics in Legal Writing: The Forensic Embroiderer, the Minimalist Wizard, and Other Stories

Judith D. Fischer

University of Louisville - Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, Vol. 9, p. 77, 2003-2004

Abstract:
This article analyzes courts' reactions to unprofessionalism in lawyers' writing. The lawyers' errors included poor research, misstatements about the law, misrepresentation of facts, poor analysis, plagiarism, and lack of civility. Consequences for the lawyers ranged from reproaches to fines and even disbarment. For an update to this article, see Pleasing the Court: Writing Ethical and Effective Briefs (Carolina Academic Press 2005).

Number of Pages in PDF File: 33

Keywords: Lawyer, attorney, court, errors, unprofessionalism, legal writing, brief, research, misrepresentation, facts, organization, wordiness, analysis, verbosity, legalese, gobbledygook, clarity, bar, discipline, suspension, Rule 11, sanctions, judges, civility, plagiarism

JEL Classification: K10

Accepted Paper Series

Download This Paper

Date posted: May 9, 2007

Suggested Citation

Fischer, Judith D., The Role of Ethics in Legal Writing: The Forensic Embroiderer, the Minimalist Wizard, and Other Stories. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=984525

Contact Information

Judith D. Fischer (Contact Author)

University of Louisville - Louis D. Brandeis School of Law ( email )

Wilson W. Wyatt Hall
Louisville, KY 40292
United States