Writing, whether you love it or hate it, is a very important (and often time-consuming) part of being a lawyer. So why not take advantage of tools that can make your writing both better and easier to accomplish?
Several years ago, I blogged about WordRake, software that suggests edits to tighten and clarify your legal writing. But Wordrake is far from the only game in town.
Other writing improvement software includes:
- PerfectIt: This proofreading software checks for consistency mistakes (e.g., e-mail and email in one document) and can be customized to your personal style. $70 per user for one year.
- Hemingway: This editing app finds hard to read spots in your writing. It locates passive voice, adverb use, and places where you can choose a simpler word. You can try it out on the website. The desktop version of the app is $19.99.
- Sideways Dictionary: This tool explains complicated technology terms using analogies. Do you find yourself trying to understand and/or explain “blockchain”? Look it up on Sideways Dictionary.
- MindNode: This mind-mapping software can help you organize particularly complicated writing endeavors. See how one author used this software to write his article on using mind maps.
These apps are only the tip of the iceberg. There are also several artificial intelligence tools that can help with your legal research, including Attorney IO, EVA, and CaseIQ.
This post on attorneyatwork.com lists even more tools to help your writing process and product. Happy writing!