DRAFTING LEGAL DOCUMENTS: Practical Resources Beatrice A. Tice Foreign and
DRAFTING LEGAL DOCUMENTS: Practical Resources Beatrice A. Tice Foreign and
Practical Resources
Beatrice A. Tice
Foreign and Comparative Law Librarian
University of Michigan Law Library
Updated 3/23/04
Although every document you create will likely be unique unto its
situation, it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel every time you sit
down to draft. This research guide is intended to provide you with an
overview of some of the most useful resources for attorneys in drafting
legal documents.
1
be used as forms. Finally, your own forms file can be a good source
of information!
FORMBOOKS
General Formbooks
2
Major sets of general formbooks:
Subject-Specific Formbooks
Some examples:
3
Uniform Commercial Code Legal Forms (4th ed. 2003-) [KF886
.N4512x]. Includes forms for states that have adopted the UCC.
Jurisdiction-Specific Forms
Document-Specific Forms
4
Complaints
COURT-PREPARED FORMS
5
court form should be used. The court website is a good place to look
for available forms.
FORMS ONLINE
Many forms are available online. Some of the best places to look
are as follows:
Many times the most useful forms are those that you find within your
own organization. These will reflect the local practice of the
jurisdiction and of the organization itself. There are many creative
places to look for forms:
In-House Databank
6
as forms. Often these are in computer databases, but may also be in
paper archives.
Especially when you are new to a law firm or legal organization, you
should check some recent forms before you begin drafting a
new type of document, even if you think you know what you’re
doing. You may pick up local stylistics, conventions, or other quirks
that you would otherwise miss.
Don’t forget to look in the file of the matter for which you’re
drafting the document. Frequently someone has already drafted a
similar document for that very matter.
Your Colleagues
One of the best resources for forms is often someone who has recently
drafted the same type of document you’re creating. Be sure to ask
your colleagues for forms or ideas about where to find forms within
your organization. It is frequently most useful to ask another
associate – rather than a partner or very senior associate – because
these are the attorneys who will be most involved with the initial
drafting of documents. (Partners usually only have time to edit
documents, so they have often forgotten where to start!)
7
Burnham, S. The Contract Drafting Guidebook: A Guide to the
Practical Application of the Principles of Contract Law (1992)
[B96708c 1992].