Legal Writing

So . . . How Can an Editor Help an Attorney?

That’s our perpetual question (one version of it), and here’s another variation on our typical answer: an editor can make sure an attorney looks good in print.

Consider the introduction to this client alert about the Treasury Capital Purchase Program:

The Treasury Department this morning provided additional information on the implementation of the Treasury Capital Purchase Program, including an application form and guidelines for the application process.

OK. So what would have happened to the intro if it had been touched by an editor?

An editor can do for your appearance in print what
a shoeshine can do for your appearance in person.

First, the editor would have reviewed what the Treasury actually did. After that, he might have pounded the intro into something like this:

This morning, the Treasury Department published a series of FAQs regarding the Treasury Capital Purchase Program. It also provided an application form along with detailed application guidelines.

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Yes, an editor can make sure an attorney looks good in print. And, at times, the editor’s effort might be closer to a complete rewrite than a quick review.

If the attorney wants to look good in print (i.e., doesn’t get deeply offended when an editor improves his copy), then an editor can be a great asset.

Every writer needs an editor, and attorneys (whether they can admit it, or not) are no exception to that rule.

Full post as published by Set in Style on August 26, 2009 (boomark / email).