It's difficult to write simply. Many students make the mistake of trying to "sound like a lawyer" when they write, when really the goal should be to sound like a newspaper.
To improve your writing, train yourself to cut. James Joyce is considered one of the giants of English literature. Years ago, I saw a draft of his novel, Ulysses, where he'd crossed out every word on the page except "eeled."
If you haven't done so already, make sure you do a lot of practice questions before exams (and actually write them out — don't outline or bullet point). When you go over your answers, see what can be cut. For example:
Wordy Answer
The first issue that we must consider is whether Skippy can correctly argue that he has acquired title to the land through the doctrine of adverse possession. In determining whether adverse possession can be applied, courts look to several factors. Those factors are use that is open, continuous for the statutory period, exclusive, actual, and notorious. If any of these elements are not met, adverse possession fails. Skippy has several good arguments, although Slappy, the landowner, will argue that the land was not gained through adverse possession. First, Skippy's use was open in that ….
Direct Answer
Skippy
A person gains title to land through adverse possession if he or she engages in use that is open, continuous, exclusive, actual, and notorious for the statutory period. Here, Skippy's use was open because Slappy would have seen the well if he went onto the land to look; it was continuous because ….
Practice cutting by taking a pen and marking out the extraneous stuff until you can cut in your head as you write.
Cutting is a skill that will serve you well in practice, teaching, or whatever it is you decide to do with your law degree. Be direct. Be simple. Avoid Latin. Only use a word like antidisestablishmentarianism if you're drunk. Think Hemingway, not Faulkner. Punk rock, not Prog rock. Rothko, not Bosch. Your clients, employees, graders, or students will thank you.
