The following resources are guidance materials only. There will inevitably be times in which what follows will not apply to your writing and it will be perfectly acceptable to write in the way best suited to developing reasons in the circumstances of the specific case.’
-
DocumentSKILLS
Some judgment writing essentials.
Produced by the Honourable Kim Hargrave, this guide is designed to help judges prepare written judgments in which arguments are routinely structured so that the reasons for decision disclose the path of reasoning leading to the result on each issue in the case.
These guides are an indispensable aid for anyone who prepares legal documents or would like to refine their writing style in general. They provide detailed, authoritative advice on grammar, style, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, footnotes, and citations, with illustrations in legal contexts.
- Bryan Garner, The Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style, (Thomson/West, 3rd ed, 2006)
- William Strunk Jr and E.B. White, The Elements of Style (University of Chicago Press, 4th ed, 1999)
Senior judicial officers and academics present their thoughts on judgment writing.
-
External LinkSKILLS
Who are judges writing for?
Compared with judgments from other jurisdictions Australian judgments tend to be long and complex. Are the Australian judiciary writing for a different kind of audience from their judicial counterparts elsewhere? This article by law professor Vicki Waye explores that question and also considers the style of modern legal communication in Australia more broadly.
- Justice Max Barrett, The Art and Craft of Judgment Writing: A Primer for Common Law Judges, (Globe Law and Business Ltd, 2022)
- Justice Max Barrett, Great Legal Writing: Lessons from Literature, (Globe Law and Business Ltd, 2023)
- Edward Berry, Writing Reasons: A Handbook for Judges, (LexisNexis Canada, 5th ed, 2020)
- Bryan Garner, Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text with Exercises, (University of Chicago Press, 2d ed, 2013)
- Richard C. Wydick, Plain English for Lawyers, (Carolina Academic Press, 5th ed, 2005)