This paper discusses legal writing in general and pleadings, affidavits, and briefs in particular. It both offers suggestions to improve legal writing (including a useful dos and don’ts summary chart) and explains the formal requirements for pleadings, affidavits, and briefs under the Rules of Court and Practice Notes.

This paper is part of a collection presented at LESA’s Advanced Civil Litigation for Paralegals program in Calgary on February 20, 2020 and in Edmonton on February 24, 2020. Total running time is 1 hour, 10 minutes.