Legal Writing is a Thing!

Dear Your Honor,

Please not use the phrase “fully advised in the premises” in small claims court cases. A non-lawyer will zero in on the phrase “in the premises” and have heart failure and believe that you have gotten off-the-record information from someone or someones in your office, because “premises” means space, building, house, and it looks like, at first blush and meaning no disrespect, it looks like you got additional information from someone in your chambers and you didn’t tell me. And now I’m finding out…after you’ve made a decision.

You see, “premise”—singular—is a foundation of a theory, a precept, a logic thing. It’s really not correct as a plural noun.

So, may I respectfully suggest that you simply say, because this is so much better: “and being fully advised”:

Say it out loud: “and being fully advised.”

Don’t you like that much better?

I will have more to say about legal style in the next day or two. Keep up the good work, Your Honor. No matter what happens, it’s been…interesting.