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Legal Language vs. Plain English: Clear Communication in Legal Documents

Authors: Dr Shubha Vats; Rachena Devi;

Legal Language vs. Plain English: Clear Communication in Legal Documents

Abstract

This abstract explores the inherent tension between traditional legalese and the principles of plain English in the creation of legal documents. The legal profession has relied on a specialised vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and often archaic phrasing. While this language serves purposes such as precision, historical continuity, and avoiding ambiguity within the legal community, it frequently creates significant barriers to understanding for non-legal professionals and the general public. This lack of clarity can lead to misunderstandings, disputes, and a sense of alienation for individuals interacting with the legal system. The plain English movement advocates for accessible and understandable language in all forms of communication, including legal writing. Adopting plain English principles in legal documents involves using simpler vocabulary, shorter sentences, and a direct, clear style. Proponents argue that this approach enhances transparency and empowers individuals to understand their rights and obligations. It improves the clarity of legal documents, ensuring they are easily comprehensible for the intended reader.

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    popularity
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Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
1
Average
Average
Average
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