EFFECTIVE LEGAL

WRITING

Sources of this
Presentation

LEGAL WRITING
By: J. Cesar S. Sangco

MANUAL OF JUDICIAL WRITING

By: Supreme Court

FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR FILIPINO

By: Justice Isagani Cruz and Justice Camilo D. Quiason

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION
By: Justice Isagani Cruz and Justice Camilo D. Quiason

RELEVANT COURT DECISIONS AND ISSUANCES

The MAGIC OF WORDS

Words are the lifeblood of judicial decisions or any other form
of writing. When the right words are used, they serve as germs
that give luster to a message or idea. On the other hand,
gobbledygook, legal jargon or archaic language is likely to take
away the vigor of a message. Thus, the use of plain, concrete
words are encouraged, especially in judicial decisions which
are meant to settle, not to further cloud, grey areas in law or in
contracts, as well as to end justiciable controversies instead of
spawning new one.

CHIEF JUSTICE HILARIO G. DAVIDE JR.

ELEMENTS OF A BAD BRIEF

by: Atty. James W. McElhaney
TOO LONG
TOO MANY ISSUES
BOMBASTIC LANGUAGE
TO MANY CITATIONS
TO MANY QUOTATIONS
PERSONAL FEELINGS
MISREPRESENTING A RULE/MISCITE A CASE

OBSERVE ABCs of LEGAL

WRITING
A-accuracy
B-brevity
C-clarity

THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
1.

PRECISION

2.

BREVITY
A.

Use the simple, familiar and concrete words

B.

Short sentences

C.

Make your paragraph compact

3.

Originality

4.

Vividness

5.

Style

ON MATTERS OF STYLE for

STYLE MATTERS
FONT SIZE
-- Use TIMES ROMANTHE

WORKHORSE OF SERIF FONTS, COMPACT AND

RELIABLE AT ALL SIZES, A NEUTRAL BUSINESSLIKE

TYPE

FONT SIZE

HEADER

12

TITLE

14

TEXT

14

BLOCK QUOTE

12

FOOTNOTE

10

WHAT ABOUT SPACING?

TYPE

SPACE

TEXT

1.5

BLOCK QUOTES

BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS

PROPER MARGINS?

POSITION

SIZE

LEFT

1.5

RIGHT

TOP

BOTTOM

ESSENTIAL PARTS OF PLEADING

BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
I.

TITLE PAGE HEADER

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUPREME COUT
EN BANC

ESSENTIAL PARTS OF PLEADING

BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
II. CASE TITLE
People of the Philippines
Appellee,
-versusJuan dela Cruz
Appellant

ESSENTIAL PARTS OF PLEADING

BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
III. DOCKET NUMBERS
1. Each case is assigned a docket number when filed. The docket
number is placed opposite the name of the party first listed.
2. If the cases are consolidated, the cases are listed according to
their docket numbers in ascending orders.
3. For administrative decisions involving court officials and
personnel and other administrative matters, the docket numbers
should be written as A.M. No.____
4. For administrative decisions involving lawyers, the docket
numbers should be written as A.C. No.____

THE ART OF CAPITALIZATION

A. REFERENCE TO COURTS
Reference to courts other than the Supreme Court should be in lower case
This court is convinced that grave abuse of discretion was
committed

B. PARTY DESIGNATION
Party designations, such as petitioner, respondent, appellant and appellee, are not
capitalized even if replacing a proper name.

Consequently, petitioner spouses contend that the contract is valid.

THE ART OF CAPITALIZATION

C. TITLE OF COURT DOCUMENTS
1. Capitalize the actual title of documents filed in the courts such
pleadings, motions, and manifestations, or decisions, orders,
resolutions issued by the courts.

as
and

The Balmes decision is about national patrimony.

2. Do not capitalize the generic name or shortened title of a court document.
The petition for mandamus was timely filed.

D. REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LAWS

1. Capitalize references to constitutions, statutes, rules,

administrative

issuances, and ordinances.

The constitutionality of the Generics Law was upheld by the Court/

THE ART OF CAPITALIZATION

E. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
1. Capitalize references derived from proper names of
agencies

government

The Bureau (referring to the Bureau of Customs)

F. POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Capitalize words designation political subdivisions
are essential elements of specific names.

Municipality of Bauan, Province of Batangas

when

they

ITALICS anyone?
A. NON-ENGLISH WORDS
Italicize non-English words. Non-English words are
those not found in the latest unabridged Websters dictionary.
When necessary, include a parenthetical explanation or
translation immediately after the word.
Basi (local fermented wine) was served by the victim to the
accused before the altercation.
B. NAMES OF NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES
Italicize the names of newspapers or magazines.
The details of the incident received extensive coverage
from such newspapers as The Philippine Star.

Highlighting or Italics Supplied

For EMPHASIS

A. FOR ADDED EMPHASIS

Use italics or boldface to emphasize specific words or

phrases
The Rule of Law must always prevail.
B. USE OF WORDS AS WORDS
Use quotation marks or italics when:
a) referring to a word or a phrase or
b) providing a definition
The phrase for payees account indicated on the face of the check
simply means that it is for deposit only and it could not be
encashed.

IT IS A NUMBERS GAME!!!
A. THE PROPER USE OF NUMBERS
Spell out numbers zero to nine and use numerals for 10 and above. Use commas for
large numbers i.e. numbers of four digits or more.

Five
55
5,555

B. IF THE NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANT.

Write it in both words and figures and enclose the figures in parenthesis
Before the present case was filed, the respondent was already charged with eleven
(11) counts of estafa.

IT IS A NUMBERS GAME!!!
C. NUMBERS GROUPED FOR COMPARISON
If a sentence or paragraph compares numbers in a particular category, use figures for all numbers
in that category.
The following provinces were represented by a good number of delegates :10 from Mindoro, 12
from Laguna, 15 from Quezon and 16 from Batangas.

D. ADJACENT NUMBERS
To clarify back-to-back modifiers, spell out the smaller number. If the numbers are the
same, spell out one.
The speech was interrupted by 12 two-minute standing ovations.

IT IS A NUMBERS GAME!!!
E. NUMBERS GROUPED FOR COMPARISON
Spell out numbers that begin a sentence

Confidant.

D.

One hundred fifty disbarment cases are still pending with the office of the Bar

NUMBERS IN DIALOGUE
Spell out numbers in dialogue, except numbers in large amounts.
He told her, the meeting will start in twenty minutes.
The speech was interrupted by 12 two-minute standing ovations.

IT IS A NUMBERS GAME!!!
F. NUMBERS IN COMMON EXPRESSION
Spell out numbers in figures of speech or certain common expressions.
Ten Cardinal Principles
Fifty feet under

G. NUMBERS IN DIALOGUE
Spell out numbers in dialogue, except numbers in large amounts.
He told her, the meeting will start in twenty minutes.
The speech was interrupted by 12 two-minute standing ovations.

IT IS A NUMBERS GAME!!!
H. ORDINAL NUMBERS
Treat ordinal numbers the same as cardinal numbers. Spell out the first through the
ninth, and use figures for the 10th onwards.
The accused succeeded on her fifth try.

G. PLURALS OF FIGURES ARE FORMED BY ADDING s.

F-14s
200s

H. PLURAL FORM OF NUMBERS

Plurals of spelled-out numbers are formed by adding s or es.
The winning raffle ticket was three eights and two sixes.

AGE MATTERS!
AGE IS EXPRESSED IN FIGURES.
5-year old child.

PERCENTAGES?
1. Figures are used either with the word percent or the percent
sign (%) . Place the percent sign directly next to the number.
The margin or error in the latest survey was. 30%
2. In pairs of numbers or numbers in a series, repeat the
percent sign.
20% to 30%

A FRACTION OF A FRACTION
1. Spell out common fractions and mixed numbers and use a
hyphen
One-fourth

2. When whole numbers, fractions and mixed numbers appear

together, use figures. When expressing mixed numbers as
figures, insert a space between the whole number and the
fraction. Do not use a hyphen.
The murder weapon was a piece of wood measuring 2 by 1/3 by 15 inches.

ON DECIMALS
3. In text that mixes decimals and whole numbers, a trailing zero
is added to the whole numbers.
3.1, 3.6, 4.0
4. If any decimal is less than one, a leading zero is added.
However, if the quantity will never be greater than zero, the zero
is not added.
0.5
.45 caliber

AND THE WINNER IS

For voting results
1. Use figures and the comparative term to when reporting
voting results.

The Board voted 10 to 4 in favor of our proposal.

MONEY TALKS
1. Place the currency sign directly before the number
P500/$300

2. Repeat the currency sign with each number in a pair of series.

Do not use any hyphens when the currency amount is used as a
compound modifier.
$100 to $300 price range.

MONEY TALKS
3. Use the currency abbreviation only when clarity requires it.
Leave a space after the foreign currency abbreviation and before
the indicated amount.
Php 500/USD 600

2. Repeat the currency sign with each number in a pair of series.

Do not use any hyphens when the currency amount is used as a
compound modifier.
$100 to $300 price range.

TO BE MEASURED AND NOT FOUND

WANTING
1. SPELL OUT UNITS OF MEASURE WHEN FIRST USED.
500 square meters.

2. Use figures with abbreviations, signs and symbols.

5km
300 sq m
36 Mhz

TO BE MEASURED AND NOT FOUND

WANTING
3. USE A HYPHEN TO JOIN A NUMBER AND A UNIT OF MEASURE
USED AS A MODIFIER
40-kg sacks
5-cm board
20-m distance

2. Use figures with abbreviations, signs and symbols.

5km
300 sq m
36 Mhz

WE NEED MORE TIME?

1. EXPRESS TIME IN FIGURES FOLLOWED BY a.m. or p.m.
2:45 p.m. or 3:45 a.m.

2. When referring to 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. eliminate confusion by

specifying 12 midnight or 12 noon,respectively.

ITS A DATE!
1. THE WRITER HAS THE OPTION OF USING THE AMERICAN
METHOD (MONTH-DAY-YEAR) OR THE BRITISH METHOD
(DAY-MONTH-YEAR) OF WRITING DATES IS ACCEPTABLE.
HOWEVER FOR CONSISTENCY, USE ONLY ONE METHOD
THROUGHOUT THE TEXT AND FOOTNOTES.
2. WHEN REFERRING TO A DATE BY MONTH FOLLOWED BY THE
DAY, DO NOT USE THE ORDINAL FORM.
(this)
The September 19 hearing
(not this) The September 19th hearing

ITS A DATE!
3. WHEN INDICATING A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YARS, USE to or
through, not hypen.
(this) Justice Manalo was on the bench from 1955 to 1971.
(not this) Justice Manalo was on the bench from 1955-1971

4. Apostrophes are used to indicate a period of time.

5. DO NOT USE AN APOSTROPHE TO INDICATE A DECADE.
1990s

ITS A DATE!
3. WHEN INDICATING A DATE BY MONTH AND YEAR ONLY, DO
NOT PLACE A COMMA BEFORE OR AFTER THE YEAR.
Two lawyers attended the June 2009 deposition.

4. Spell out names of the days and months in the text and
footnotes. Abbreviate only in formats such as tables, graphs and
catalogs where space is a consideration.

ABBREVIATIONS
1. ON THE FIRST USE, NAMES THAT ARE CUSTOMARILY
ABBREVIATED ARE SPELLED OUT FOLLOWED BY THE
ABBREVIATION IN PARENTHESIS.
The pre-judicature program was sponsored by the Philippine Judicial Academy
(PHILIA).

ABBREVIATIONS
2. After the first usage, abbreviate specific parts of the laws.
The powers of the Supreme Court which concerns admission to the bar is found in
paragraph 5, section 5 of Article VIII of the 1981 Constitution. Sec.5 also covers the rule
making power of the Court.

3. As a rule, spell out Constitution, legislative enactments,

treaties, executive and administrative issuances.
IN EXCEPTIONAL INSTANCES WHEN ABBREVIATIONS ARE
NECESSARY, SPELL OUT THE ABBREVIATED WORDS ON FIRST
USAGE FOLLOWED BY THE ABBREVIATION IN PARENTHESIS.

KISSing OUR PARAGRAPHS

(keeping is short and simple but effective)

1. INTRODUCE EACH PARAGRAPH WITH A TOPIC SENTENCE. (this
allows readers who are in a hurry to get the point efficiently)
OPEN THE PARAGRAPH WITH YOUR TOPIC SENTENCE.
2. USE TRANSITION WORDS AND PHRASES TO BRIDGE BETWEEN
PARAGRAPHS such as:
1. Pointing words like, this, that, these, those and the.
2. Echo Linkswords or phrases in which a previously mentioned idea
reverberates.
3. Explicit connectives words whose chief purpose is to supply transitions
(further, also, therefore)

KISSing OUR PARAGRAPHS

(keeping is short and simple but effective)

NOTE: Selecting a precise transition is entirely a matter of
context, some transitions will work well in some contexts but not
all in others.
3. VARY THE LENGTH OF YOUR PARAGRAPH, BUT GENERALLY
KEEP THEM SHORT.
--long paragraphs can put off your readers even if they are lawyers.
--strive for an average paragraph of not more than 150 words.

A LONG SENTENCE IS A DEATH

SENTENCE.
1. LONG SENTENCES ARE THE HALLMARKS OF TRADITIONAL
LEGAL WRITING BUT OUR WRITING CAN BE LEGALLY ACCURATE
WHETHER WE USE ON SENTENCE OR SEVERAL SENTENCES
2. THE AVERAGE READER CAN HOLD ONLY A FEW IDEAS AT A
TIME IN HIS SHORT TERM MEMORY. AFTER TWO OR THREE
IDEAS, THE READER NEEDS TO PAUSE AND PUT TOGETHER
WHAT HAS BEEN READ. READERS OFTEN GET LOST IN VERY
LONG SENTENCES.

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
1. FAILURE TO PUT PARTS OF EACH SENTENCE IN A LOGICAL
ORDER.
(not this) Petitioner sent respondent copies of the pleadings and some
additional documents in response to the request of February 9, 2005.
(this) In response to his request of February 9, 2005, petitioner sent
respondent copies of the pleadings and some additional documents.

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
2. THE USE OF SEXIST LANGUAGE
Avoid language that discriminates against women or perpetuate thoughts of
male supremacy.

USE

DO NOT USE

1. HUMAN RESOURCES

1. MANPOWER

2. POLICE OFFICER

2. POLICEMAN

3. SALESPERSON

3. SALESGIRL

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
3. AVOID USING HE OR SHE AS A GENERIC PRONOUN by:

a. Eliminating the pronoun altogether

A court clerk can give her advice on the matter

A court clerk can give an advice on the matter.

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
3. AVOID USING HE OR SHE AS A GENERIC PRONOUN by:

a. Replace the sexist pronoun with a neutral pronoun or article such

as a, the, this or one.

A judge can always make his ruling orally.

A judge can always make the ruling orally.

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
4. OMIT SURPLUS WORDS
Three good things happen when one combats verbosity:
1. Reading is faster
2. Clarity is enhanced
3. Writing has greater impact

ERGO, Include only those words that will sufficiently get the
point across, no more no less.

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
WHY WRITE THIS:

It is not necessary that

compensation be paid directly
investment advisory services, but
adviser receive compensation from
services.

an investment advisers
by the person receiving
only that the investment
some source for his or her

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
IF YOU CAN WRITE THIS:

Although the investment adviser must be paid, the

source of the payment does not matter.

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
5. AVOID THE JARGON

Even lawyers can have trouble understanding specialized

legal terms, particularly those pertaining to a field of law outside
of their practice.
Limit the use of LATIN words to phrases that are generally used,
i.e. res ipsa loquitor, prima facie, res judicata, sui generis. (LATIN
PHRASES ARE OFTEN JARRING TO THE MODERN READER, EVEN
WHEN THAT READER IS A LAWYER)

SOME PITFALLS OF SENTENCE

WRITING
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

AVOID THE ARCHAIC

Aforesaid
Henceforth
Hereinbefore
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
Null and void
Give, devise and bequeth
Free and clear
Full and complete
True and correct
Convey, transfer and set over.

SOME RULES TO REMEMBER IN

WRITING OUR PLEADING
BAR MATTER NO. 1132, DECEMBER 2, 2010

ALL LAWYERS ARE REQUIRED TO INDICATE THEIR ROLL

OF ATTORNEY NUMBER IN ALL PAPERS OR PLEADINGS
SUBMITTED TO THE VARIOUS JUDICIAL OR QUASI
JUCICIAL BODIES IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENT
OF INDICATING THEIR CURRENT PTR AND IBP OFFICAL
RECEIPT NUMBER OF LIFE MEMBER NUMBER.

SOME RULES TO REMEMBER IN

WRITING OUR PLEADING
BAR MATTER NO. 1132, DECEMBER 2, 2010

ALL LAWYERS ARE REQUIRED TO INDICATE THEIR ROLL

OF ATTORNEY NUMBER IN ALL PAPERS OR PLEADINGS
SUBMITTED TO THE VARIOUS JUDICIAL OR QUASI
JUCICIAL BODIES IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENT
OF INDICATING THEIR CURRENT PTR AND IBP OFFICAL
RECEIPT NUMBER OF LIFE MEMBER NUMBER.

SOME RULES TO REMEMBER IN

WRITING OUR PLEADING
BAR MATTER NO. 1132, DECEMBER 2, 2010

ALL LAWYERS ARE REQUIRED TO INDICATE THEIR ROLL

OF ATTORNEY NUMBER IN ALL PAPERS OR PLEADINGS
SUBMITTED TO THE VARIOUS JUDICIAL OR QUASI
JUCICIAL BODIES IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENT
OF INDICATING THEIR CURRENT PTR AND IBP OFFICAL
RECEIPT NUMBER OF LIFE MEMBER NUMBER.

BEFORE SIGNING and PRINTING

and FILING
READ, READ, READ
REVIEW
REDUCE
REDRAFT

THE END
THANK YOU
GOOD LUCK and
GOD BLESS!