Workshop B — Decision Writing 2.0: The Art of Writing Efficient, Concise and Accessible Decisions

Oct 28, 2024 1:30 pm – 04:30 pm

Emily Crocco
Chairperson
Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal

  • Mastering the use of plain language so that decisions are accessible but also legally accurate
    • Avoiding boilerplate language and legalese
  • Deciding the structure of point first or issue-based language
  • Creating a roadmap or structure towards ensuring the readers of decisions can easily glean what facts matter, the weight given to the evidence, the law applied, the result, and the remedy
    • Ensuring the decision responds to the submissions of the parties
  • Appreciating the importance of visuals and logistics of coherent decision-writing, e.g.:
    • The use of headings, paragraphs, transitional markers, white space on the page, etc.
    • Reviewing the Clear Print Accessibility Guidelines
    • Special considerations for virtual decisions and the use of links
  • Strategies to shorten the length of the decision
    • E.g., when are citations needed and when can they be left out?
    • What facts are not truly necessary?
  • Examples of "internally coherent" decisions with a "rational chain of analysis"