Finding the Right Editor For Your Legal Writing Project

Finding the Right Editor For Your Legal Writing Project If his writing gig hadnt worked out so well, chances are Shakespeare may have made a fine legal editor in his day. Also likely true: He may have had to dial it back a few notches to comport with the more pragmatic goals of his clientele. Consider the following quote:The quality of mercy is not straind.It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: It is twice blessd;It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomesThe throned monarch better than his crown;His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,The attribute to awe and majesty,Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;But mercy is above this sceptred sway.It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,It is an attribute to God himself;And earthly power doth then show likest GodsWhen mercy seasons justice.Portia, disguised as young lawyer Balthazar in a Venetian Court of Justice, The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, scene 1Lets face it: Legal editing represents a unique conundrum. W hether mercy, or something else entirely, is the goal, an attorney or other legal professional who is seeking to hire an editor is looking for that unique individual who understands much is often at stake, and every phrase carries import.If youre searching for someone to edit legal text, first look for an individual who understands that caution and accuracy are paramount. After all, youre not producing a promotional press release or an advertisement. Rather, youre seeking assistance with documents that may well be placed under a microscope, scrutinized under the bright and unrelenting eyes of the court as well as opposing counsel. Under these circumstances, cute and catchy are rarely considerations. Rather, compelling is the watchword.What is the definition of compelling? According to Merriam-Webster, compelling is first defined as forceful, as in a compelling personality. Secondly, it is defined as demanding attention. Finally, compelling is defined as convincing. All three definit ions may prove relevant in a legal document. The nature of the editorial approach should largely depend on guidance provided by you, the client. Bear in mind, however, that even a recitation of just the facts can be made more compelling under the guidance of a skilled legal editor.Whereas the law is passionless, passion must ever sway the heart of man. AristotleAlthough your work is based in fact, you nonetheless seek to tell a great story that supports your overarching objectives as concisely as possible. Consider asking potential editors for samples of their own writing- in addition to their editing- that demonstrate an ability to forge a convincing narrative. A good editor is, first and foremost, an experienced, thoughtful writer, and this may prove the most effective test in determining compatibility. In almost any argument, you must convince your audience to care about what you have to say if you hope to prevail. A good editor will advance this cause.When seeking editorial assi stance for legal writing, also make certain any candidate under consideration understands and acknowledges your concerns. You may be looking for an editor to help unravel complex grammatical constructions, enhance clarity, and address inconsistencies and redundancies in the text. Most likely, youre not looking for heavy-handed editing that runs the risk of changing the meaning of the language. Make absolutely certain anyone you hire is aware of this and other editorial boundaries. Humility is a virtue when editing legal text. Editors are not attorneys, and respect for the original source of the information is critical. Look for an editor who is comfortable asking questions when necessary before altering text, especially in the early stages of your professional relationship.At the same time, take steps to ensure the editor you choose is competent enough to get the job done with questions kept to a minimum. Seek a well-organized individual who is capable of independently addressing th e lions share of issues that arise. If you find yourself constantly beset by queries and delays, the arrangement may be of little benefit to you. More than likely, youre already buried under a mountain of unrelenting deadlines, with precious little time to spare.Consider the merits of an ink-stained wretchIts possible that former journalists may be uniquely suited for legal editing. There may well be some parallels between your goal of ensuring accuracy and consistency and the old journalists credo: If your mother says she loves you, check it out. A journalist may also help to ensure that youve addressed the five Ws- who, what, when, where and why- in your argument. In summary, look for mature editors whose credentials mirror your values and objectives.Youll want to find an editor who pays close attention to the substance of headings and subheadings- critical navigational tools in your work- ensuring key arguments are not buried in text that may otherwise be overlooked. Any editor y ou choose should be able to carefully examine your document, making certain that the narrative is logical and chronologically ordered when appropriate. A strong editor will also be able to identify and eradicate redundancies and superfluous adjectives that bog down your argument. Any inconsistencies in the text- whether factual or structural in nature- should be found and fixed by your editor. If youre interested in ensuring correct legal citations, youll also need to make certain that the editor you choose is versed in this specialized field and is also able to adapt to potential jurisdictional peculiarities.Availability, volume, deadlines and pricing are all key considerations in your choice of an editor. How quickly can the editor respond when a rush project arises? Given the heavy workload in most law practices when it comes to document production, it may be wise to inquire about the number of pages an editor is capable of reviewing per workday, as well as weekend availability. Make clear your expectations so that the editor is ready when projects are assigned. You may also want to discuss the need to adjust editing approaches when there simply isnt time for an ideal review. In practice, this is a common dilemma. Can your editor focus exclusively on major issues when you have an expedited project? Candidates who demonstrate inflexibility may prove problematic when a critical document is in play. Also iron out pricing arrangements for all contingencies beforehand. Its one less thing to worry about when an emergency deadline looms, and it will help your editor plan accordingly.The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-LyttonFinally, technical savvy is a definite plus. If your voluminous document requires a table of contents that spans several pages, will your editor be able to quickly produce it? Ask about this and other technical skills that really matter when youre faced with unforgiving deadlines. Also inquire about approaches to proofreading. For instance, how will your editor address inconsistencies in the spelling of names and potential grammatical errors in citations? Its important to have these discussions up front so that your editor realizes such issues in legal text may pose unique problems. For instance, if they appear in a direct quote or a citation from an existing ruling, such problems should be left alone.Here again, humility and caution are virtues in your legal editor, because if these errors and inconsistencies are altered, it may render your citation factually inaccurate. You may hire a very good editor who does not know such things. Help them to excel by creating a list of the more esoteric aspects of your written projects, and stress the importance of adherence to the integrity of your work.Whether youre drafting a brief or a letter to a client, take the proper steps to ensure that the editor you choose helps advance your goals in all of your written work. Toward that end, ten important questions for poten tial legal editors follow:Is the editor familiar with the The Bluebook?Does the editor have a proper legal dictionary? You might ask candidates if theyre familiar with Blacks Law Dictionary or another personal favorite.Can the editor provide examples of legal documents successfully edited?Does the editor demonstrate an understanding of basic legal issues?Can the editor navigate the intricacies of a court filing if necessary?Does the editor understand the structural elements of most legal documents?Can the editor create or edit headings and subheadings, produce a table of contents, create or edit footnotes, and perform other technical work necessary to finalize documents?Does the editor recognize the importance of proofreading at the final stages to ensure absolute accuracy?If volume is a consideration, can the editor complete all work in a timely manner?Finally, are the terms of the arrangement, including pricing, deadlines and expectations, agreeable to both parties?Additional onli ne resourcesSeveral online guides outline the how tos of legal writing. A few helpful links for editors as well as clients are listed below. The last is just for kicks.ABA Journal: 10 Tips for Better Legal WritingCopyediting.com: How to Edit for LawyersThe Economist: Why Lawyers Love Shakespeare

Bob Marley's Weapon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bob Marley's Weapon - Essay Example Miller provides a very apt interpretation of this real 'weapon' of Marley which also indicates his political and revolutionary concerns. "Bob Marley often used to say, 'My guitar is my weapon.' What he meant, of course, was that he could make more of a statement about the futility of oppression and violence with his revolutionary reggae music than he ever could by fighting or organizing physical uprisings." (Miller) Through the strength of his music, Marley was able to influence the political and cultural transformation of his land and he was aware from his childhood that race was culture. The great political and revolutionary concerns of the musician were enlarged by the power of his music and through the medium of his guitar he achieved international acclaim for the same concerns. The most influencing elements in the musical and political ideologies of this renowned musician were race and culture.

Social Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Performance - Essay Example In this case, there are different types of categories who have interest in the BP Power project. The table below shows the stakeholder list and their roles. In this case, BP power management and employees are the primary stakeholders since they are directly involved in carrying out the work. The members of the community are the secondary stakeholders since they are impacted by the project though some of them are not directly involved. Table 1: Stakeholder list and roles Stakeholders Interests/ roles in the project BP Power -Project coordinator - should act as a role models in society by being socially responsible to the people targeted. Community members - participating at grassroots levels to ensure that the project is a success -Generation as well as sharing of knowledge about their area. BP Power employees Responsible for executing the actual project 2. It is recommended that stakeholder involvement in the project should be given priority in a bid to positively influence the desti ny of the business being undertaken in this scenario. Basically, this particular project is mainly concerned with creating a sense of asset management among the intended beneficiaries so that they can also have a positive feeling towards development projects that are meant to uplift their welfare in their respective communities. Thus, the success of this project can be determined by the involvement of the members of the local communities. It is therefore recommended that the coordinators of this project should actively involve the community members in different aspects of the project such as decision making since they are the ones who will be directly impacted by the project. The community members can provide invaluable knowledge about their area to the project coordinators which also helps to improve the way a project is carried out. It is also recommended that teamwork among the employees of the company should be promoted since this helps in creating and sharing of knowledge that is vital in carrying out this work. It is also recommended that the management should adopt a democratic, participatory leadership style that is open to all members involved in the project. Mutual understanding is likely to be achieved if this style of leadership is used in carrying out a project of this magnitude. 3. Being the CEO responsible for coordinating the project, I would encourage stakeholders to form coalition teams responsible for carrying out different tasks in the project. For instance, I would encourage the employees to work as teams and these teams would be responsible for executing different tasks in the project. The success of a given project mainly depends with teamwork among the people responsible for carrying out the work. As a leader, I would facilitate team formation and give the much needed support to all the stakeholders so that they can share the same vision of the project. I would also promote learning among the team members so that they can generate vital knowledge about different aspects of the project. I would also make an effort to form a coalition of influential community members who can positively influence other people in their respective areas to take a positive approach towards the project since it would be designed to

DETERMINING IF A BURGLARY SUSPECT WAS GUILTY Essay

DETERMINING IF A BURGLARY SUSPECT WAS GUILTY - Essay Example Burglary can be committed in any building, tent or vessel used as a â€Å"human dwelling†. The words â€Å"human dwelling† must be noted as it connotes a wider meaning than the term â€Å"dwelling house†. (Tudor Jackson, The Law of Crimes, 3rd Edition). Once it is established that there has been a â€Å"breaking and entering†, it must still be proved that there was intent to commit a felony therein. Usually a felony has been committed on the premises e.g. theft, otherwise the intent to commit a felony must be established. This is the mens rea in the offence. The intent must exist at the time of breaking and entering. Therefore to determine that the suspect of burglary is guilty, the courts must establish the guilty mind or intention (mens rea) of the accused which shall be followed by the actual act committed i.e. breaking and entering into the house. To constitute burglary, it is not necessarily that the suspect must after breaking into or entering the house has to steal something. Having the intention of stealing even if he/she did not find what she intended to steal and left without taking anything is itself an offence of burglary committed. In Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S 784 (1969), the petitioner was tried in a Maryland state Court for burglary and larceny. He was acquitted of larceny but convicted of burglary and sentenced to 10 years in prison. On retrial the petitioner was found guilty of both offences and concurrently sentenced to 15 years for burglary and 5 years for larceny. The appellate court ruled against petitioner on the double jeopardy issue.

Free College Admissions Essays: Interest in Computers :: College Admissions Essays

My Interest in Computers    My interest in computers goes right back to when I was eight and I used to write my own little stories on my mum's laptop. Now, not only have I got experience in using a computer, I have learned a substantial amount of HTML, through A Level ICT and self-teaching. I would like to do this course so I can develop my talent to its limits.    Two of my strengths are solving problems and having a head for figures. This is reflected in my maths predicted grade and my B in my GCSEs, and these qualities are needed by people in the field of computing. My predicted grade in chemistry shows that I have patience, which is also a desired characteristic. On top of that, my commitment to my studies is shown by my attendance record: I only missed one day in the whole of Year 11 and in Year 12 I missed none.    As you can see above, I have had a part time job in Sainsbury's for more than a year now, and due to this I have gained the important qualities of communication, teamwork and independence. Also, in Year 10 I had two weeks work experience in Luton & Dunstable Tax Office. Although this placement wasn't specifically related to the Internet, I got a taste of what it's like to use computers at an actual place of work.    I have successfully completed my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's award, in which I improved my ability in snooker and cycling, and helped run a cub pack at my local scout group. At my school I'm not afraid to take on responsibilities. In year 10 I volunteered to be a reading mentor to the younger students. In year 11 I was a school prefect. Last year I helped with activities to raise money for the Christian charity CAFOD. I've also read in school masses and represented my school in athletics. Out of school hours, I like to play snooker, go to the cinema and train in the gym.

Ladies Detective Agency Essay

1.Conventional mystery novels usually contain one long and riveting mystery throughout the course of the whole story. This may or may not be successful in many cases based on the author’s interest in that one mystery. With this book containing many different mysteries and crimes to solve it allows readers to become more engaged in each one instead of one mystery carrying out through the whole story. This made the pacing of the novel much more concrete and enjoyable. The author also did a nice job on emphasizing one big crime that carried out throughout most of the story. This kept the readers engaged throughout the story, as they were able to bounce back to that original story without getting bored of it. 2.Precious Ramotswe is an extremely warm and loving character. She is such a charming protagonist because of her positive attitude and determination towards all of the obstacles thrown at her in life. She is so different from other detectives because she is a woman, a person that has gone through an enormous amount of hardships in her own life, and she is a detective because that is what she loves. She doesn’t just do it for the purposes of making money. She feels that all African people are her brothers and sisters and it is her job to help them with their troubles. 3.These cases that Mma Ramotswe deals with, are cases that police cannot solve. This factor drives suspense in the views of the reader ad from Mma Ramotswe’s perspective, as she cannot go to the cops for assistance in these riveting cases. The readers know how a police officer would handle certain situations, but in this case it was more of a mystery as we learned how Mma Ramotswe would handle these situations. 4.Mma Ramotswe view on men was ruined by her first experience with a man. Ever since she got pregnant with her husbands baby and then he left she has looked at men in a very stereotypical and our way. Throughout this story, every bad quality Mma Ramotswe has said about men is proven to be valid in this book as most of her cases involve snoopy and cowardly men who leave and cheat on their wives. 5.It expresses her roots and sets the tone of her values and her culture. It gives the reader an idea of how the people live in her area and throughout Africa. His life reveals a lot of history including apartheid and the inequality of blacks in South Africa. His story reveals that mines shorten your life span and it is sad how you work so hard to make a living for yourself and your family, but in the end the mines will cause you to live less. 6.Most of Mma Ramotswe’s cases involve a person lying about something that she needs to solve. She uses intuition and the people’s hunch to crack those mysteries that they are hiding from her. She can solve this based on the behavior of the person. This played a huge factor in the first case as she was trying to figure out whether a man was a girl’s father or a fraud. 7.She is right in many cases that women have more perspective in men. She is able to prove this from the fact that most of her cases involve men doing something to or hiding something from a woman. In the novel she uses her woman perspective and observation to crack the secret from a man cheating on his wife. She was able to do this because of the experiences she had been through with men. She comically undercut’s the lawyers arrogance by saying how she has observed more that he hasn’t observed like his fly being unzipped. 8.She is articulating that thinking and getting worked up over something is not worth it. People just need to move on or fix these problems that they have. This will better your life making it easier to move on. Even though Mma Ramotswe has an extremely busy and tense life, that motivation gives her peace and stability because she knows she will fix it and move on towards a positive direction in her life. 9.Mma Ramotswe marries Note because she feels that he is an interesting man that you do not come around everyday. She also feels that she can solve all of his problems and make him a better person. His smooth talk really got her to fall for him. This makes her a much deeper and more complicated character because she brings so much controversy and stupidity. This makes her deeper because she now seems more like a real person who makes mistakes just like everyone. Her abusive marriage with Note changes her outlook on men and the trust that she has in each one. As bad as the relations were, it helped her in the long run as the experience gave her perspective on many men she was dealing with. It really ruined her interest in marrying any other man because of the fear. 10.Mma Ramotswe is not stereotyping about white people when she says this. In the culture of white people, some work and make money, but just keep on working to keep bringing in the money. That’s how their lives work. She is completely correct when she says they don’t enjoy because these people do take the time to enjoy it every now and then, but they cannot just stop what they are doing because all that money will slowly go away. Mma Ramotswe lives her life to bring happiness to herself and to her family. Life to her is more than just money. What is most refreshing to her is happiness and the beauty of the world around her. Other differences in white and black cultures that are shown in the book are the relationships between men and women. In the black culture, choosing a wife or a husband is an extremely fast process while in white culture it takes a long time to make that decision. 11.The aspects of traditional Africa that contradicts her are the status and lack of power control that women have. They do not get a say in things like marriage and family duty. There is such a contradiction with her and old Africa because her whole lifestyle is based on the power that women are given in the modern era. Without that her whole career and a huge aspect of life would not exist. 12.When Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni proposed to Mma Ramotswe the first time, I knew that this relationship would come up again in this book. I wasn’t surprised went she said no the first time because of all she has been through but as the story went on and their relationship grew, I knew they were going to end up getting married. It was the perfect ending to that novel. 13. No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency draws upon this knowledge through Mma Ramotswe’s observation skills and actions while solving a mystery. The tactics she uses are explained in-depth and are helpful in learning about detective work. In this book lawyers and the police did not play a big role in this private detective work. They only played a role when charges were being made and when the case was almost closed. 14.I do not believe that this is a feminist novel whatsoever as these stories are compelling to all genders. I do not believe it depicts men, but gives many different example of true actions men take part in. It doesn’t say that woman are always right and do not make mistakes because they do make mistakes and take part in wrong acts as well. I believe the author did a great job of representing Mma Ramotswe as I was shocked to find out a man wrote this book. I felt like Mma Ramotswe was telling me the story. 15.This story shows basic story telling by the usage of many different mysteries Mma Ramotswe solves in this book. It is sophisticated for her outlook on certain situations and the power of observation of woman. This book teaches you to not give up on a dream based on a certain limitation or social status’. It teaches you to pursue your dreams and make the world you’re involved in positive at the same time. It also teaches to cherish happiness and what is given to you in this world.

What Is Viscosity in Physics

Viscosity is a measurement of how resistant a fluid is to attempts to move through it. A fluid with a low viscosity is said to be thin, while a high viscosity fluid is said to be thick. It is easier to move through a low-viscosity fluid (like water) than a high-viscosity fluid (like honey). Key Takeaways: Importance of Viscosity Viscosity, the thickness of fluid, refers to how resistant a fluid is to movement through it.Water has a low or thin viscosity, for example, while honey has a thick or high viscosity.The law of viscosity has important uses in such areas as inkjet printing, protein formulations and injections, and even food and beverage manufacturing. Viscosity Definition Viscosity refers to the thickness of fluid. Viscosity results from  the interaction, or friction, between molecules in a fluid. Similar to friction between moving solids, viscosity will determine the energy required to make a fluid flow. In physics, viscosity is often expressed using  Isaac Newtons equation  for fluids, which is similar to Newtons second law of motion. This law states that when a force acts on an object, it will cause the object to accelerate. The larger the mass of the object, the greater the force will need to be to cause it to accelerate. Viscosity Formula The viscosity formula is often expressed using Newtons equation for fluids: F / A n (dv / dr) where F represents force and A represents area. So, F/A, or force divided by area, is another way of defining viscosity. Dv divided dr represents the sheer rate, or the speed the liquid is moving. The n is a constant unit equal to 0.00089 Pa s (Pascal-second), which is a dynamic viscosity measurement unit. This law has some important practical applications such as  inkjet printing,  protein formulations/injections, and food/beverage manufacturing. Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluid Viscosity Most common fluids, called Newtonian fluids, have a constant viscosity. There is a greater resistance as you increase the force, but its a constant proportional increase. In short, a Newtonian fluid keeps acting like a fluid, no matter how much force is put into it. In contrast, the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids is not constant, but rather varies greatly depending on the force applied. A classic example of a non-Newtonian fluid is Oobleck (sometimes called slime, and often made in elementary school science classes), which exhibits solid-like behavior when a large amount of force is used on it. Another set of non-Newtonian fluids is known as magnetorheological fluids. These respond to magnetic fields by becoming nearly solid but reverting to their fluid state when removed from the magnetic field Why Viscosity Is Important in Daily Life While viscosity may seem of minor importance in daily life, it can actually be very important in many different fields. For example: Lubrication in vehicles. When you put oil into your car or truck, you should be aware of its viscosity. Thats because viscosity affects friction, and friction, in turn, affects heat. In addition, viscosity also affects the rate of oil consumption and the ease with which your vehicle will start in hot or cold conditions. Some oils have a more stable viscosity, while others react to heat or cold; if your oils viscosity index is low, it may become thinner as it heats, which can cause problems as you operate your car on a hot summers day.Cooking. Viscosity plays a significant role in the preparation and serving of food. Cooking oils may or may not change viscosity as they heat, while many become much more viscous as they cool. Fats, which are moderately viscous when heated, become solid when chilled. Different cuisines also rely on the viscosity of sauces, soups, and stews. A thick potato and leek soup, for example, when it is less viscous, becomes French vichyssoise. Some viscous fluids add texture to foods; honey, for example, is quite viscous and can change the mouth feel of a dish.Manufacturing. Manufacturing equipment requires appropriate lubrication to run smoothly. Lubricants that are too viscous can jam and clog pipelines. Lubricants that are too thin provide too little protection for moving parts.Medicine. Viscosity can be of critical importance in medicine as fluids are introduced into the body intravenously. Blood viscosity is a major issue: blood that is too viscous can form dangerous internal clots, while blood that is too thin will not clot; this can lead to dangerous blood loss and even death.