Putting Clients First in Legal Writing

Open start date. Choose what suits you.  $275 CAD

Best customer-service practice


This course is for lawyers and paralegals: changing attitudes, writing process, and writing style. 

Professionals in legal services must meet the needs of clients while maintaining competency in a common body of skills forming the fundamental elements of competent representation

This course provides a self-paced opportunity to explore the interpersonal and communication skills needed for better client management.

 Course Material

  • Readings are provided as links in each lesson.
  • Resource list to learn more about modern legal writing practices.
  • How to proceed through the course.
  • The course assignments must be completed within 8 weeks of your start date.

Editing for Plain Legal Writing

Jan 9 and Mar 6 $275 CAD

For writers with no legal training

This six-week course is for anyone who has to edit legal materials to be clear
and user-friendly, whether or not you have a legal background. You will learn:

  • why legal writing is the way it is 
  • how to consider the needs of your readers
  • how to organize a piece of legal writing to guide readers through it
  • how to deal with some common problems with legalese

You may practise your skills on an existing piece of legal writing or use an extract from a cell phone contract included with the course materials. I also provide a free text book from the course originator, Cheryl Stephens. 

This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked. 



Editing for Plainer Technical  Writing

Jan 16 and Mar 13 $275 CAD

For people who prepare technical information for non-technical readers

This six-week course is for anyone who prepare technical information for non-technical readers. You might write: 

  • correspondence to citizens about their water quality 
  • reports to elected officials about development projects 
  • user manuals for customers with new electronics

You will learn to assess your audience and their information needs and to edit a technical document so that they can find the information they need, understand what they find and use that information quickly.

This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked.