Reading and writing legal documents

This section provides you with practical information about how to prepare legal documents.

It can help you with:

​Writing skills

If you have a legal issue, many of the documents you may need to write will require similar skills. Learning these skills can help you write clear and precise legal documents.

For more information about skills that are useful for writing legal documents, see Writing skills.

Reading legal documents

If you need to write a response to a legal document you have received, such as:

• a letter of demand
• a Statement of Claim
• an offer of settlement
• an affidavit,

you need to be able to understand what the legal document you have received says.

For more information on how to read legal documents, see Reading legal documents.

Letters

If you have a legal issue, you may need to write letters to:

• a court or tribunal
• the person you are in dispute with (or their lawyers)
• third parties.

Letters can be written for a number of reasons, including to:

• offer settlement
• make demands, (for example, for the payment of money)
• ask for a change in a timetable or orders made by a court.

For more information on how to writ​e different types of letters, see Letters.

Affidavits, statements and statutory declarations

If you have a legal issue, you may need to prepare evidence to support your side of the case. Affidavits, statements and statutory declarations may be used as evidence. The things you should write in an affidavit, statement or statutory declaration will depend on the type of case you are involved in, and what you are trying to prove.

For more information on what to include in these documents and how to write them, see Affidavits, statements and statutory declarations.

Agreements and settlements

Many cases (both before they get to court and during court) end with both parties agreeing to settle their differences. If you settle your case, or reach agreement with the other party, you can put your agreement in writing.

For more information on how to do this, see Agreements and settlements.

Emails and faxes

Sometimes you may need to send documents or letters by email or fax. There are things you should think about when sending an email or fax, and certain information you should include.

For more information, see Emails and faxes.