Links
American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects
The Society publishes an excellent journal -- The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing.
Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel
Legislative drafting offices in Australia are actively adopting and implementing plain-language policies. The Commonwealth office has produced a guide for people working with it on legislative projects. In the Guide, the Office sets out various approaches to making legislation clear -- including using graphics. The Guide was written by the First Parliamentary Counsel, Hilary Penfold QC.
Clarity
The international association for anyone interested in plain language and the law. Clarity publishes a great journal. You can join by filling out the downloadable form on Clarity's site and mailing it to the Clarity representative in your country. The Australian membership fee is A$35.00 and the Australian representative is:
- Christopher Balmford
Clarity's Honorary Australian Agent
Cleardocs
PO Box 2225
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Australia
Email: christopher.balmford@cleardocs.com
Communication Research Institute of Australia Inc.
The Institute is an independent member-based organisation providing services and publications to members.
European Union
The European Commission's Translation Service is running a light-hearted plain language campaign called "Fight the FOG". The Service presents awards and provides training -- they even have a song.
The site has good links to other EU plain-language activities and information on plain-language activities in:
- Finnish
- French
- Italian
- Swedish.
Law & Justice Foundation of New South Wales
The Foundation's site has useful resources and guidelines for writing and resources. Each month, the Foundation publishes an email newsletter about plain-language developments. The Foundation also provides useful guides etc. to Australian law.
Plain English Campaign (UK)
A presence in the UK media as it campaigns - often theatrically - for plain language. Presents awards for the best and worst documents each year. Also provides rewriting and training services.
Gained its first media attention when the founder Chrissie Maher shredded government documents on the footpath in Whitehall. When the police came along "to move her on", she asked them to read her the law that gave them the power to do so. The law was unintelligible ... She refused to move ... A media campaign was born.
PLAIN: Plain Language Association International
An international association based in Canada with a broad focus on improving communication everywhere and in every field - eg. health, people with disabilities, the internet, law, business etc.
Site has great references, news, articles, and contacts.
PLAIN runs a lively Internet Discussion List. Also it holds a major plain-language conference every 2 years.
You can join PLAIN and the Internet Discussion List on the site. (You can join the List for free without joining the Association.)
Plain English Commission (UK)
Provides rewriting and training services. Presents awards for the best and worst documents each year. Director Martin Cutts publishes excellent reports on plain language with substantial demonstration rewrites - including a rewrite of a European Union regulation.
Plain Language Committee of the State Bar of Michigan
Driven by the plain-language luminary Professor Joseph Kimble. The site has an archive of the excellent articles published on plain language in the Bar Association's monthly journal.
The Plain Language Action & Information Network
US Government volunteers working to deliver plain language across the US government.
Securities Exchange Commission US
The SEC has a plain language initiative. It produced a useful guide on plain language with an introduction by Warren E. Buffett. The guide is downloadable.
Victoria Law Foundation
Funding organisation providing, and supporting, guides to Australian law.
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