The run-on sentence seems like the hallmark of legal prose. Think of the Preamble to the Constitution, not truly a run-on, but a four engine freight train of phrase after phrase after phrase, and with power and momentum as well.
Attorneys have style, not just the robes and pinstripes, but the header at the top of legal documents is called the “style.” The style contains the characters of the case (the plaintiff and defendant), the setting of the case (the county, division, and case number), and the plot of the document (what the document is trying to do). The style is like a playbill, outlining the characters, scene setting, and what the document is trying to achieve.
Throughout the legal document there are bolded areas, which highlight the important plot points.
“Pro se” is not a
misspelling of prose. It is a Latin term
meaning “for oneself,” and in a legal context, it means representing
oneself. While Pro se representation is
on the rise in the United
States, it may not be for you if you have
trouble navigating legal jargon and long sentences. Attorneys go to school for three years to
learn what they’re talking about, and to become aware of strategies available.
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