{"id":2473,"date":"2018-04-30T11:32:02","date_gmt":"2018-04-29T23:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.plainenglishawards.org.nz\/?p=2473"},"modified":"2018-04-30T14:59:38","modified_gmt":"2018-04-30T02:59:38","slug":"plain-english-legal-writing-awards-celebrate-basic-democratic-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.plainenglishawards.org.nz\/plain-english-legal-writing-awards-celebrate-basic-democratic-right\/","title":{"rendered":"Plain English in legal writing \u2014 Awards celebrate a basic democratic right"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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Our rights and obligations are enshrined in the law. But we can\u2019t claim those rights or fulfil those obligations if we don\u2019t understand them. Understanding truly is power. It unlocks our democratic rights.<\/p>\n

That fact is recognised in the Plain English Awards category, Best Plain English Legal Document.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s winner sets the standard for legal drafting<\/h3>\n

The document that won last year was a mammoth effort. A team from the Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) combined twelve Acts into one: the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.<\/p>\n

The judges said, \u2018Parliamentary Counsel Office did a great job of combining multiple acts that were a confusing hodgepodge of legislation into a single intelligible act.<\/p>\n

\u2018A clear understanding of the audience and consultation with these groups made the project stronger. The explanations in the legislation were particularly useful.<\/p>\n

\u2018The revised Act is a great step forward in New Zealand for plain English legislation. And the intended audience has a much clearer picture of contractual law in New Zealand.\u2019<\/p>\n

You can enter any kind of legal document<\/h3>\n

Are you thinking of entering this Awards category? The 2017 winner is a hard act to follow, but don\u2019t feel you have to try, says Awards organiser Melissa Mebus.<\/p>\n

\u2018Any kind of legal document is worth entering \u2014 whether it\u2019s long and complex or short and simple. The important thing is that it\u2019s about a legally enforceable law, process, obligation, or right. Examples are contracts, T&Cs, notices, and legal opinions.\u2019<\/p>\n

Plain English legal writing brings business benefits<\/h3>\n

The tide is turning in favour of plain English in legal writing in New Zealand and overseas. Plain language practices report happier clients and increased business. And plain English can bring unforeseen benefits, with more clients meeting deadlines just one example.<\/p>\n

One document, two entries<\/h3>\n

The PCO team also entered the rewritten Act in the Best Plain English Turnaround category, where it was shortlisted. Melissa says, \u2018We welcome multiple entries for the same document. A good document or website can tick many plain English boxes, and should get the recognition it deserves.\u2019<\/p>\n

To enter, you have to submit the original document or webpage as well as the rewrite. The rewrite must be in current use.<\/p>\n

Improve your chances of winning an award<\/h3>\n

Find out how to give winning your best shot at the Awards Trophy Tips Seminar on Friday, 4 May. You\u2019ll get expert advice from past winners, judges, and supporters of the Awards. Attendance is free \u2014 book for the Trophy Tips Seminar online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Entries now\u00a0open on Monday, 7 May<\/h3>\n

We said we’d open on 1 May but we need a little bit of extra time as we upgrade to a new entry platform.\u00a0Watch for entries opening next Monday, 7 May. Entries close on Friday, 31 August.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our rights and obligations are enshrined in the law. But we can\u2019t claim those rights or fulfil those obligations if we don\u2019t understand them. Understanding truly is power. It unlocks our democratic rights. That fact is recognised in the Plain English Awards category, Best Plain English Legal Document. Last year\u2019s winner sets the standard for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[45,40,52,1,50],"tags":[47,53,54,51],"yoast_head":"\nPlain English in legal writing \u2014 Awards celebrate a basic democratic right - Plain English Awards<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plainenglishawards.org.nz\/plain-english-legal-writing-awards-celebrate-basic-democratic-right\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Plain English in legal writing \u2014 Awards celebrate a basic democratic right - Plain English Awards\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our rights and obligations are enshrined in the law. 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