Legalese

Legalese

I believe that at some time in the past, lawyers must have charged on a per word basis. It is the only explanation I have as to why attorneys use lengthy, old-fashioned and sometimes confusing jargon when talking and writing. If you can’t understand your lawyer, chances are a jury won’t either. Just because he sounds impressive, doesn’t mean he actually knows what he is talking about. Get him to explain in plain English what he is talking about and explain again if you didn’t understand.

What is even worse when a person who is not an attorney, even a very intelligent one, will try and sprinkle in words they have heard because they sound “legal.” Not only is it not needed, but if you don’t understand the words you are using, you may be saying something other than what you intend. The following list may help you decipher what an attorney might say and for attorneys to use more understandable language to get across information and assist their clients.

 

LEGALESE PLAIN ENGLISH ALTERNATIVES
adequate number of enough; sufficient
aforesaid previous
all of the parties all parties
and/or … or… or both
anticipate expect
as to whether (or not) whether
at the time when
by means of by; through
contained in in
contiguous to next to; adjacent to
deems considers
does not operate to does not
during such time as while
   
for the duration of during
for the purpose of ___ing; with the object of ____ing to ____
for the reason that because
hereby; hereofhereunder; herein by/of this ___; under this ___; in this ___
heretofore previously
   
in case; in the event that if
in lieu of instead of
in many cases many of; often
in order to to
in the last analysis finally
   
is (un)able to can(not)
it is directed; it is the duty must; shall
it is incumbent on X to X must; X shall
literal(ly) actual(ly); exact(ly)
loan (verb) lend
monies money
necessitate require
necessity of need to
occasion (as a verb) cause
of a technical nature technical
on the part of by
possess have; own
prior to before
render (i.e., to give) give
render (i.e., to cause to be) make
said the, that
secondly second
subsequent to after
such the, that
suffer allow
take into consideration consider
thereby; thereofthereunder; therein by that ___; of that ___under that ___; in that ____
to the effect that that
transpire happen
   
under the provisions of; pursuant to under; in accordance with
until such time as until
utilize use, make use of
with respect to about

-Bradley A. Coxe is a practicing attorney in Wilmington, NC who practices in Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Contract and Real Estate disputes, and all forms of Civil Litigation.  Please contact him at (910) 772-1678.