Foreword

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and terminology.

A list of all parts in the ISO 24495 series can be found on the ISO website.

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Introduction

This document helps authors communicate in plain legal language so that even complex legal information can be expressed clearly, effectively and accurately. Plain language makes information accessible to both legal professionals and non-expert readers.

This document builds on international recognition of the benefits of using plain language in legal communication.

The ability to understand legal information helps individuals and organizations protect their rights. For individuals, these include the ability to earn a living, obtain housing, make sound medical and financial decisions, and pursue and defend legal rights. Understandable legal information also makes it easier for individuals and organizations to meet their legal obligations and participate in legal processes.

Good legal communication reduces costs, increases efficiency and improves effectiveness and compliance (see Reference [2]). Other benefits include increased trust, reduced litigation as well as easier digitalization and translation.

Legal communication practices vary widely, from author to author, across legal systems, within legal specialities and within segments of the profession. But too often, the profession communicates in ways that can unintentionally leave the most important stakeholders on the outside and interfere with the communicators’ goals. While many legal professionals communicate effectively within their own area of practice, the profession lacks consistent standards to also communicate effectively with clients, the public and other professionals.

1 Scope

This document deals with legal communication, and it builds on the foundation for plain language in ISO 24495-1 . It establishes guidelines and techniques to help authors make sure that readers can readily understand legal communication and exercise their legal rights and obligations.

This document explains how to apply principles from ISO 24495-1 in legal contexts that require authors to achieve these goals:

reach multiple audiences with different needs;
adhere to legally required structural and design requirements;
explain complex and nuanced legal concepts;
explain processes that readers must navigate to exercise legal rights and obligations.

This document applies to legal documents in all sectors, including the legal, governmental, non-governmental and health sectors. Similarly to ISO 24495-1 , it aims to work for most languages, but it provides examples only in English. It reflects research on plain legal language and the experience of experts in the field (see Reference [3]). To the extent possible, this document allows for differences in legal systems.

Although this document applies mainly to written communication, it can apply to oral communication in some contexts, such as discussions with clients and explanations in court proceedings.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Governing principles

5 Guidelines

5.1 Guidelines for Principle 1: Readers get what they need (relevant)

5.2 Guidelines for Principle 2: Readers can easily find what they need (findable)

5.3 Guidelines for Principle 3: Readers can easily understand what they find (understandable)

5.4 Guidelines for Principle 4: Readers can easily use the information (usable)

Bibliography