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!



Sunday, July 12, 2009

My piece in the New York Times

Last week, the New York Times ran my Op-ed piece about the Declaration of Independence. The Founders borrowed liberally (to put it mildly) from the language of British law when drafting the Declaration. What makes the Declaration great is that the Founders turned what might have been a provincial legal document into a universal declaration of rights. And that's something to celebrate!