Most of us have words and phrases that we overuse. For example, I have a tendency to start sentences with ‘clearly’ when writing submissions: as…
Should you prepare a list of questions? This is a question on which reasonable people disagree. The argument is basically this. Those against say a…
Black. Or blue. Or dark purple, if you like. The only really important thing to avoid is using a light pastel colour, which will not…
This is a post mainly for law students volunteering for FRU, and others very early in their careers. Let’s assume you’re a brilliant lawyer. You…
If your hearing bundle runs to more than one volume, divide the volumes at round numbers if you sensibly can – so, for example, don’t…
There is a tendency for advocates, consciously or subconsciously, to divide documents and authorities between ‘mine’ and ‘theirs’. ‘My’ documents are those that come from…
Daleside is a recent EAT decision on costs. Mrs Mathew brought a direct race discrimination case, along with claims for unfair dismissal and wages. The…
Pompous writing is very common among lawyers, and if you aspire to be a lawyer or to be taken seriously by lawyers it can be…
The Ministry of Justice has just published its research into employment tribunal awards and whether they are being paid. They surveyed 1,002 successful claimants. It…
If you are cross-examining a witness, don’t comment on his answers. That needs a little explanation. You can ask follow-up questions of the sort “But…