1.2 Know your role and audience

Among the roles you might play as a writer in law school are solicitor, barrister, judge, public servant, law reform commissioner, representative of a professional organisation or a lobby group, or academic researcher. Sometimes you will also just be asked to write as yourself, a private citizen. In each of these roles you will have a different perspective, reflecting the function you are fulfilling in that role. This can shape how you write your document.

Knowing your audience is equally important. You might be writing for lawyers, clients, judges, government ministers, law reform commissioners or the general public. The identity and nature of your audience can have a very significant effect on how you should write your document and will help you decide when to use clear, simple language or more technical language to make your work most effective.