Lawyers often lament the need to improve their writing. The realization usually hits after reading their own work, which too often seems alien or muddled. The truth is, writing is not an innate gift but a skill honed through practice—through the unglamorous, persistent effort carried out in solitude.

The fundamental shift needed is to stop writing to impress and start writing to be understood. Many legal writing issues stem from the writer's intent more than their skill. Lawyers frequently write with the objective to sound intelligent, formal, or overly cautious, which can result in prose that is correct yet lacks warmth and accessibility.

Your primary role is not to showcase legal jargon but to facilitate decision-making for your reader, whether they be a judge with a heavy caseload, an adjuster reviewing claims late at night, or a CEO seeking counsel. The essence of legal writing should be clarity—a sign of respect for the reader's time and effort.

Here are key strategies to improve your legal writing:

1. Emphasize Clarity Over Complexity: Start with a clear structure. Before you write, clarify your main point, understand what your reader needs to know first, and determine what they must believe to align with your argument. Avoid the temptation to overthink; preparation should not be confused with endless rumination.

2. Embrace the Ugly First Draft: Allow yourself to write a rough initial draft without worrying about perfection. This stage is about laying down your thoughts. Refinement happens later, and mixing these stages can stifle your flow.

3. Revise Ruthlessly: Understand that writing is rewriting. The first draft is for your eyes only—to figure out what you want to say. The subsequent drafts are where you refine your message for your audience. Feedback during this phase is crucial and should be seen as constructive data to improve your work.

4. Be Concise: Challenge yourself to cut down your drafts. Try reducing your text by 15%, then another 10%. This practice helps eliminate unnecessary words and sharpens your argument.

5. Prefer Simplicity: Opt for simple, straightforward language. Replace 'utilize' with 'use,' 'if' with 'if,' 'before' with 'before.' Simple language builds trust and makes your writing more accessible.

6. Read Aloud: This might feel awkward, but it's incredibly effective. Reading your draft out loud can help catch complex sentences, legalese, or awkward phrasings that might confuse the reader.

7. Regular Practice and Review: Like any skill, regular practice and critical review are the keys to improvement. Write frequently, in varying formats, and always review your work to understand what worked and what didn’t.

By focusing on these strategies, legal professionals can write more effectively, prioritizing the reader's understanding over displaying legal expertise. The goal is clear communication, not showcasing scholarship. This approach not only improves readability but also enhances the persuasiveness of your arguments.