Herrera in Nov. `Maricopa Lawyer'

11/13/2008

Herrera in Nov. `Maricopa Lawyer' 
     
 Tamara Herrera 9-08
      Tamara Herrera
The appropriateness of using the first person in legal documents was explained by Professor Tamara Herrera in her column, "First Person Should not Always be the First Choice," in the November issue of Maricopa Lawyer.
     Herrera said a legal writer may need to use the first person when writing a client letter or drafting a will or contract, because it offers a personal tone or directness to the writing. However, first person may be too informal and affect the writing's persuasiveness in certain documents, such as a court brief.
     "To be more persuasive and committed, a writer should avoid the following phrases: it is my opinion, I feel, I believe, and we contend," she wrote. "The following phrases also have the same 'crutch" effect, even though they do not specifically use the first person: the facts and law suggest, it appears that, it is likely that, and it is clear that."
     To read the column, click here.
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