AVAILABLE NOW
     
“I have met few people who understand the mechanics of legal writing and the art of persuasion as well as Joe Regalia. This book will help anyone achieve that level of excellence.”

Liv Kiser

Partner, King & Spalding
     
“With tips like these, it will be hard for any judge to overlook your client’s arguments.”

Jonathan Hilton

Founding Partner, Hilton Parker LLP

Level Up Your Legal Writing

Techniques and Technology to Supercharge Your Skills

This breakthrough book from Joe Regalia is the most comprehensive guide on how to become a standout legal writer.

Step 1: Get Your Copy of Level Up Your Legal Writing

Interested in purchasing LUYLW for your organization? Click here to contact us. 

Step 2: Enjoy the Free Resources

Ready to become a standout legal writer? Get access to a comprehensive library of cheat sheets and guides to help elevate your legal writing skills.

Cheat Sheets & Guides

Get access to a comprehensive library of cheat sheets and guides to help elevate your legal writing skills.

Writing Practice

Sharpen your legal writing skills with free activities and practices keyed to each Level Up Your Legal Writing chapter. 

Step 3: Try the LUYLW Companion Course

Hone your writing with AI-powered practice, hundreds of additional writing examples, and step-by-step instruction on harnessing the power of every technique in the book. 

Why becoming an excellent legal writer is easier than you think

Write your awesome label here.

Ten Things This Book Will Teach You

Learn how the best legal writers in the world...
Write with direct, concrete style that convinces readers.  
Engage readers with science-backed rhetorical moves. 
Reframe complexity into intuitive points that connect with readers. 
Distill what readers care about in moments.
Harness the power of storytelling to capture readers’ hearts.
Adopt proven processes for drafting documents effortlessly. 
Create visuals that transform what readers see. 
Leverage powerful technology to supercharge your writing
Hone editing skills to efficiently improve every project. 
Practice writing techniques for long-term improvement.
And a lot more!

Stay up to date on the latest in legal writing! 

Sign up now for expert tips to elevate your legal writing skills right away.
Thank you!

#Introductions

Learn how to capture the most powerful parts of your document in an introduction that will make readers want to agree with you before reading a single citation. 
“Last August, Citibank wired over $500 million of its own money by mistake. Ordinarily, the recipient of such a mistaken transfer must return the money. Yet the District Court held that, in this case, Citibank is not entitled to restitution because another entity—Revlon Consumer Products Corporation—was supposed to pay the recipients the same sum of money three years later—in 2023. That extraordinary result is as wrong as it sounds.”

- In re Citibank

#Headings

Headings welcome your reader to each section—so they should be inviting. Spruce up your section’s yard so that your reader will want to come in and read more.

“A.  The defendant had no expectation of privacy in his bathroom because he ‘called police on the phone’ and ‘asked them’ to come inside.”

- A federal appellate brief

#Conclusions

Don’t forfeit this precious real estate with a copy and paste job. Use conclusions to recapture your reader’s attention and leave them with a lasting impression. 

“The decision … means that thousands of FDOC inmates will not receive a publication designed to inform them of their legal right and of abuse within the FDOC system. It plainly paves the way for censorship of the First Amendment rights of the many more thousands of individuals currently detained within the confines of the Eleventh Circuit...” 

- A U.S. Supreme Court Petition

#StrongStyle

Good legal writing is about building something great, and then tearing off anything not helping it be great. It’s about getting to the simple, elegant core of your ideas. It’s about developing a direct style that delivers points down to the roots.

“Gulf-sized race-based gaps exist with respect to the health, wealth, and well-being of American citizens. ... Every moment these gaps persist is a moment in which this great country falls short of actualizing one of its foundational principles—the ‘self-evident’ truth that all of us are created equal.”

- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson 

#LegalWritingTech

The digital metamorphosis of legal writing is upon us. Simple technology can automate the error-prone steps in your legal writing. AI-driven platforms and generative AI can do more, redefining how you approach legal writing altogether.

As a renowned legal writer, please edit the following text: [Your Writing]

For context, here is an example of excellent writing: [Sample Writing]

Here is the text I’d like you to edit: “The court here …”

- Sample GenAI instructions that can instantly improve your legal writing

#Introductions

Learn how to capture the most powerful parts of your document in an introduction that will make readers want to agree with you before reading a single citation. 
“Last August, Citibank wired over $500 million of its own money by mistake. Ordinarily, the recipient of such a mistaken transfer must return the money. Yet the District Court held that, in this case, Citibank is not entitled to restitution because another entity—Revlon Consumer Products Corporation—was supposed to pay the recipients the same sum of money three years later—in 2023. That extraordinary result is as wrong as it sounds.”

- In re Citibank

#Headings

Headings welcome your reader to each section—so they should be inviting. Spruce up your section’s yard so that your reader will want to come in and read more.
“A. The defendant had no expectation of privacy in his bathroom because he ‘called police on the phone’ and ‘asked them’ to come inside.”

- A federal appellate brief

#Conclusions

Don’t forfeit this precious real estate with a copy and paste job. Use conclusions to recapture your reader’s attention and leave them with a lasting impression. 
“The decision … means that thousands of FDOC inmates will not receive a publication designed to inform them of their legal right and of abuse within the FDOC system. It plainly paves the way for censorship of the First Amendment rights of the many more thousands of individuals currently detained within the confines of the Eleventh Circuit...” 

- A U.S. Supreme Court Petition

#StrongStyle

Good legal writing is about building something great, and then tearing off anything not helping it be great. It’s about getting to the simple, elegant core of your ideas. It’s about developing a direct style that delivers points down to the roots.
“Gulf-sized race-based gaps exist with respect to the health, wealth, and well-being of American citizens. ... Every moment these gaps persist is a moment in which this great country falls short of actualizing one of its foundational principles—the ‘self-evident’ truth that all of us are created equal.”

- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson 

#LegalWritingTech

The digital metamorphosis of legal writing is upon us. Simple technology can automate the error-prone steps in your legal writing. AI-driven platforms and generative AI can do more, redefining how you approach legal writing altogether.
As a renowned legal writer, please edit the following text: [Your Writing]

For context, here is an example of excellent writing: [Sample Writing]

Here is the text I’d like you to edit: “The court here …”

- Sample GenAI instructions that can instantly improve your legal writing

Praise for Level Up Your Legal Writing

“Joe Regalia’s Level Up Your Legal Writing will inspire you to take your advocacy to the next level. With tips like these, it will be hard for any judge to overlook your clients' arguments.”
Jonathan Hilton
Founding Partner, Hilton Parker LLP
“The writing style is highly engaging, and the tech element is the secret sauce that
makes this book unique.”
Gabriel H. Teninbaum
Assistant Dean and Professor of Legal Writing, Suffolk University Law School
“I wish I had Level Up Your Legal Writing in my arsenal sooner. It’s a toolbox filled with practical examples and techniques that would have made me a more effective advocate from the start. The clarity of Joe’s writing and the abundance of real-world examples make this a book you’ll actually use, not just read once and shelve.”
Jory Hoffman
Co-Founder of Write.law; former associate attorney at Jenner & Block, LLP
“The advice and strategies proffered here are not just theoretical; they are battle- tested. I have met few people who understand the mechanics of legal writing and the art of persuasion as well as Joe Regalia. The best legal writers are indeed made, and this book will help anyone achieve that level of excellence.”
Liv Kiser
Partner, King & Spalding; former partner at Sidley Austin, LLP
“Level Up Your Legal Writing seamlessly weaves legal technology and AI into legal writing in a way that packs a punch for today's lawyers. Teeming with examples and step-by-step guidance, this book will help you thrive in the tech revolution unfolding before our eyes.”
Ross Guberman
Founder of BriefCatch and Legal Writing Pro & author of Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation's Top Advocates
“The writing style of this text is wonderful. Joe has an amazing ability to connect with readers. The examples are amazing.”
Mary Procaccio-Flowers
Assistant Clinical Professor of Law; Faculty Advisor, Santa Clara University School of Law

Get Your Copy of Level Up Your Legal Writing

Interested in purchasing LUYLW for your organization? Click here to contact us.

Let Me Tell You More About Level Up Your Legal Writing...

Level Up Your Legal Writing is a step-by-step guide for leveling up every dimension of your legal writing. From capturing your readers’ attention to leveraging the latest generative AI, we’ll explore decades of research on how to do legal writing better.

Don’t believe those who say that it takes years to improve your craft. Or those who say you need some special writing talent to thrive. You can transform your legal writing in months, or even weeks. You can become confident and no longer a victim of confusing grammar rules or arbitrary writing advice. Most importantly, you can develop your own authentic voice that connects with audiences.

I know because I’ve seen it happen for well over 100,000 law students, lawyers, judges, and other legal writers whose writing we’ve helped transform at Write.law. This book will give you the writing techniques and technology insights that have revolutionized their writing. It’s these tools that make great legal writing possible. Not talent. Not years of toil. A set of tools. Learn to use them, regularly practice them, and your prose will transform. 

And one of the best tools in your arsenal isn’t writing at all, but writing technology. Technology can slash the time you spend on routine writing tasks and even hone your style. New tools promise to do more, like penning the first draft of a motion or putting together the bones of a complicated contract. While the pen-and-paper writing tools in this book remain relevant, you would be crazy to ignore all the benefits technology can bring to your writing projects.

You’ll find concrete tips for unleashing the power of technology in every aspect of your legal writing. Then, to bring all of these techniques together, I’ll walk you through the winning processes that great legal writers use along with simple tactics for improving your writing quicker.

After reading this book, you’ll have picked up enough tools—writing and machine—for your transformation to begin. You’ll see writing as a chance to try new techniques. You’ll be confident enough to weave your own voice into your advocacy. And the more you level up your legal writing, the more you’ll learn to love it.

Explore the Book

Explore everything in Level Up Your Legal Writing chapter-by-chapter—from writing fluently to engaging readers to leveraging technology.

Chapter 1: Level Up Your Writing Perspective 

Learn the 10-step framework used by the best legal writers in the world that makes tackling any writing challenge a breeze. 
  • Write Fluently
  • Cut Clutter
  • Engage
  • Frame and Prime
  • Guide
  • Explain
  • Distill
  • Tell Stories
  • Teach the Rules
  • Leverage Technology

Chapter 2: Level Up Your Message

Develop your ability to extract powerful, useful messages so that they instantly connect with even the most busy, skeptical readers.
  • Distill Your Document’s Takeaways
  • Distill Your Sections
  • Distill Your Paragraphs 

Chapter 3: Level Up Your Legal Stories

Harness the power of storytelling to capture readers’ hearts as well as their minds. 
  • Choose the Foundational Facts
  • Frame the Details
  • Tell Stories About the Law

Chapter 4: Level Up Your Law

Explore the simple steps that the most effective legal writers use to bring clarity to even the most convoluted legal discussions. 
  • Teach the Law
  • Teach Text-Based Rules
  • Link Rules to Facts
  • Make Citations Useful

Chapter 5: Level Up Your Persuasion

Pick up the priming, framing, tone, and other core tools leveraged by the most persuasive advocates. 
  • Frame and Prime
  • Weave Themes and Policy
  • Maintain a Credible Tone
  • Persuasively Counter Opposing Views

Chapter 6: Level Up Your Organization

Learn strategies for organizing your points and transforming every document into a trusted resource. 
  • Craft Introductions That Frame and Prime
  • Start Sections with a Snap
  • Make Documents Easy to Navigate

Chapter 7: Level Up Your Style

Develop the strong, confident style used by the most effective legal writers. 
  • Build Sentences from the Base
  • Fine-Tune Your Sentences
  • Choose the Right Words
  • Put Together Paragraphs Purposefully
  • Transition Constantly

Chapter 8: Level Up Your Mechanics and Editing

Avoid pitfalls that plague even the most seasoned legal practitioners. Then hone your editing skills to efficiently improve every document. 
  • Avoid Common Legal Grammar Pitfalls
  • Write Clearly
  • Punctuate Perfectly
  • Edit Efficiently

Chapter 9: Level Up Your Writing with Even More Style

Elevate your writing among the greats with more than a hundred of the most effective rhetorical structures.
  • Use Word and Phrase Echoes
  • Use Location
  • Use Word and Phrase Structures
  • Use Sound Structures
  • Use Concept Style Structures

Chapter 10: Level Up Your Document Design

Use visuals to connect with readers in new ways; leverage typography and white space to make your documents pleasing to the eye. 
  • Use Vivid Visuals
  • Design Your Documents

Chapter 11: Level Up Your Documents

See all the major techniques in this book come together in a sample document—and develop a drafting checklist to make creating new documents a breeze. 
  • Introductions
  • Fact Sections
  • Analysis
  • Emails

Chapter 12: Level Up Your Writing Process

The best writing techniques are useless without a process for using them every day. Adopt the process used by leading legal writers and adjust it to your taste. 
  • Understand Process Improvement
  • Make a Plan
  • Wrangle the Facts
  • Research and Find Your Pitch
  • Think Through Your Draft
  • Get Words on the Page
  • Edit, Proofread, and Finalize

Chapter 13: Level Up with Generative AI

Harness the power of cutting-edge artificial intelligence smartly and ethically to slash your writing time and elevate your writing to new heights. 
  • Understand how GAI Works
  • Avoid Ethical and Practical Pitfalls
  • Learn Prompt Engineering

Chapter 14: Level Up Today and Tomorrow

Ensure your new writing techniques stick with some simple tactics for regularly practicing your writing skills.
  • Leverage Habit Science
  • Make a Writing Practice Plan
  • Make It Fun

TRY FOR FREE

The LUYLW Course

Boost your skills with the Level Up Your Legal Writing companion course! This course features short, bite-sized videos, interactive practice, cheat sheets, and  more!

About Joe Regalia

Joe is a law professor, trainer, and attorney with a passion for legal writing, persuasion science, and technology. He combines his experience as both practitioner and professor to create exciting new ways to teach legal skills.

Joe has led more than 2,000 workshops and keynotes for leading law firms, courts, Fortune 500 companies, federal and state agencies, and other organizations. As head of Write.law’s training group, Joe leads a team of legal writing researchers and trainers that are responsible for helping more than 100,000 legal practitioners improve their craft. Joe also regularly consults on bet-the-case briefing for law firms and nonprofit organizations. 

Before co-founding Write.law, Joe graduated first in his class from the University of Michigan Law School, clerked for both the U.S. Court of Appeals and U.S. District Courts, and practiced at several top AmLaw 100 firms.
Write your awesome label here.

Get Level Up Your Legal Writing Today

     
“I have met few people who understand the mechanics of legal writing and the art of persuasion as well as Joe Regalia. The best legal writers are indeed made, and this book will help anyone achieve that level of excellence.”

Liv Kiser

Partner, King & Spalding
     
“With tips like these, it will be hard for any judge to overlook your clients’ arguments.”

Jonathan Hilton

Founding Partner, Hilton Parker LLP

FAQs

What is Level Up Your Legal Writing About?
Level Up Your Legal Writing by Joe Regalia is a comprehensive guide designed to help legal professionals enhance their writing skills. It covers techniques for writing fluently, engaging readers, leveraging technology, organizing documents, and crafting persuasive legal messages.
Who is this book for?
This book is ideal for law students, legal practitioners, judges, and anyone involved in legal writing who wants to improve their skills and produce more effective, clear, and persuasive documents.
What topics are covered in this book?
The book covers a wide range of topics, including writing fluently, cutting clutter, engaging readers, leveraging technology, organizing documents, distilling information, telling legal stories, and creating powerful introductions and conclusions.
How can this book improve my writing?
By following the practical techniques and strategies outlined in the book, you can improve the clarity, engagement, and persuasiveness of your legal documents, making them more effective and impactful.
Is this book suitable for new legal writers?
Yes! LUYLW is suitable for both beginners and experienced legal writers. The book provides foundational principles as well as advanced techniques, making it a valuable resource for all skill levels.
Can this book help me leverage technology?
Yes! The book covers various tools and technologies that can enhance your writing process, from research and editing software to document automation and collaboration tools.
Does the book come with any free resources?
Yes! Readers have access to free resources, including templates, checklists, and sample documents, to help implement the techniques discussed in the book.
What is the LUYLW course?
The LUYLW Course is an online program that provides additional training and interactive exercises to reinforce the concepts covered in the book. It offers video tutorials, quizzes, and personalized feedback to help you master your legal writing skills.