What is POFP?

Why do lawyers refer to long documents as briefs and
18-year olds as infants? Why do they use so much Latin when so few of their
clients are Ancient Romans? Is it a conspiracy?


Party of the First Part has the answers! Check out the Website for the
Legalese Hall of Shame; a glossary of legal words linked to Adam Freedman's
columns; tips on writing legal documents in plain English; and more!



Monday, May 26, 2008

Work, Work, Work

In the case of Tyson Foods, Inc. v. de Ascencio, the Supreme Court is currently considering the issue of whether the word "work" under the Fair Labor Standards Act includes the time spent donning light protective gear, "if the activities do not require a significant level of exertion." Read the rest at Scotus Blog. All I can say is: if doing work requires a "significant level of exertion," then I want no part of it.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Word of the Week

Eigne

An adjective from Law French meaning "firstborn," it also has a metaphorical sense of "prior" or "superior" (giving rise to constructions such as eigne title). Old English law, with its fine distinctions, recognized the status of bastard eigne -- the firstborn illegitimate son of parents who subsequently married and had a legitimate son. Whatever would we do without that term?