Legal language

Witnesses in the court room often feel that they have to emulate those who have been doing the talking up until then: the lawyers. As a result they do not do themselves justice as they sound false.

Similarly, litigants writing, say, to solicitors on the other side or preparing a document for a Judge feel the need to use legalistic language. The lawyers can then take a delight in spotting the various solecisms, the incorrect references, the meaningless jargon that transpires. If only the writers simply used plain English.

One of the best opponents I had in court was a mother, acting for herself in court, many years ago. With a series of short sharp submissions, she completely destroyed my case which was dismissed.