Hey everyone, I’m Rob. You can find a short bio here.
Now let’s get right to it.
Law is a literary profession. Words are everything. They’re our raw materials, our equipment, and our final product. Yet so many of us view writing as a chore to be dreaded or an elusive talent never to be mastered.
In reality, it’s neither. Writing is a gratifying form of creativity that anyone can learn.
Make no mistake, writing can be painful while you’re doing it. But that pain is temporary. The gratification of a job well done is permanent. And although not everyone can be a Hemingway, I believe that most lawyers could write pretty well if they’d just learn a few habits.
If you’re willing to stick with it, and sharpen your craft a little at a time, then it’d be my privilege to help you succeed.
I don’t yet know how this blog will play out, but I can promise this much:
I’ll keep things short.
I’ll do my best to encourage you and to provide moral support.
I’ll avoid being technical—I’m bad at that whatever-you-call-it stuff anyway.
I’ll avoid snark. The web is lousy with it, it’s a poor substitute for quality thinking, and people say I’m just not that funny.
I’ll keep politics out of it. Too many lawyers have a really hard time with this—and besides, I’d end up alienating everyone (except you; we’re on the same page).
I’ll try not to sound arrogant. I’m not doing this to show you how smart I am. I’m doing this to show you how smart you are.
I’ll answer your questions to the best of my ability.
I’ve heard people say that good legal writing can’t be taught. I disagree—someone taught me, and I’ve never stopped learning. So join me if you will, and subscribe. Give me a chance to demystify things. To help you improve your writing game. To boost your confidence. To interest you in searching out other helpful writers and bloggers. And to learn a thing or two myself.
Oh—and before you leave, see my disclaimers. They’re a work in progress (as is this whole blog), but they’ll tell you where I’m coming from.
I look forward to seeing you around here. Let’s go!
Have a question or suggestion? E-mail me: TheHeavyPencil@gmail.com
And please consider subscribing!