A one-day workshop titled “Mastering Legal Drafting: The Fundamentals for Success”, organized by the Law Students’ Council (LSC), Pakistan in collaboration with the technical & academic support of School for Law & Development (SLD), held on December 26th, 2024, at the National Library, Islamabad. The SLD extends its deepest appreciation to the LSC for organizing this workshop and making it a success. The event brought together aspiring legal professionals and practitioners for an in-depth exploration of legal drafting—a critical skill for success in the legal profession.
The SLD expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the LSC for their diligent efforts in organizing this impactful event. SLD team provided insightful training sessions that enriched participants’ understanding of legal drafting.
The first training session included ‘Essentials of Legal Drafting’ presented by Mr. Sharafat Ali Chaudhary (Chairperson, SLD). Chairperson, SLD explored the foundations of legal drafting, emphasizing it as an art that requires clarity, precision, and structured thought. Drawing on key concepts from his presentation, he discussed the structured methodology for creating legal documents such as contracts, agreements, wills, and pleadings; the use of clear and concise objectives in drafting; techniques to ensure consistency, plain language, and the application of defined terms throughout documents; the essential rules of legal drafting, which serve as a practical guide for drafting accurate and effective legal documents.
The second session was on the ‘Use of Language in Drafting’ by Ms. Rabia Mustafa (Senior Research Fellow, SLD). She emphasizes principles and pitfalls in crafting effective legal documents. Key issues identified include nominalizations, verbosity, redundancy, and ambiguous phrases, which undermine clarity and precision. The presentation advocates for active voice, gender-neutral language, and avoiding double negatives, weasel words, and meaningless adverbs. It discourages the use of ambiguity and promotes the use of positive language. Proper grammar, clear tone, and precise word choice are essential for impactful legal writing, ensuring the communication is both clear and professional.
The next session was on the ‘Importance of Drafting Basic Civil and Criminal Documents’ by Mr. Umar Sajjad Chavan (Director, Center for Legislative Drafting, SLD). Mr Chaven highlighted that drafting as a fundamental aspect of legal practice, essential for effective advocacy and clear communication. It emphasizes the importance of mastering both facts and applicable laws before drafting and outlines the role of drafting in civil and criminal matters, including pleadings, contracts, and appeals. The principles of effective drafting stress pleading facts rather than law or evidence, focusing on material facts, and maintaining brevity and precision. The objectives include ensuring fairness, clarifying disputes, and preventing surprises. Clear, concise, and well-structured drafting is vital for persuasive legal arguments and adherence to procedural rules.
The last session was presented by the Chairperson, SLD on ‘How to Navigate Through a Judgment’. He provided a step-by-step guide on analyzing judicial judgments. Participants learned techniques for extracting key legal principles and understanding judicial reasoning.
The workshop concluded with an inspiring address by Dr. Muhammad Islam (Patron-in-Chief, SLD), who provided thought-provoking insights into the role of legal drafting in advancing professional excellence. His remarks motivated participants to approach legal drafting with diligence and a commitment to quality.
This workshop not only equipped participants with essential drafting skills but also underscored the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and professional bodies in fostering professional development. The SLD thanks everyone who contributed to the success of this event.
