The effectiveness of a print or electronic document is a direct result of
its text, organization and design. For successful communication, writers must
present information in a way that is readable and usable by their audience.
Legal documents pose a special problem, as they tend to be written in a
language that only lawyers can understand. However, non-lawyers must also use
these documents. Misinterpreting legal language results in clients not understanding
their rights and responsibilities.
No matter what the subject, complex documents decrease comprehension and
increase clients’ frustration. Unclear communications result in client calls and
misunderstandings, which lead to wasted staff time and dramatically increased
costs.
