Pleadings Without Tears has become established as one of the most successful books on practical legal drafting in the context of litigation. This new seventh edition consolidates and updates the sixth edition to take account of the various relevant changes to the Civil Procedure Rules, and includes a new chapter on skeleton arguments. The book takes a practical and insightful look at the subject of legal drafting. Rather than merely providing a series of precedents, the author sets out fundamental rules common to all good drafting, so that the reader will become more confident in approaching this often unnecessarily daunting subject. The book contains a wealth of practical examples and anecdotes and is illustrated throughout with cartoons. Its light and entertaining style, combined with detailed analysis and explanation, enable the reader to easily acquire a good understanding of drafting.

Table of Contents

1. Pillars of Understanding (General Principles); 2. Getting the Show on the Road (The Claim); 3. Making a Fight of It (The Defence and Counterclaim); 4. The Right to Reply (The Reply); 5. Don't Answer Back (Rejoinder, etc); 6. Pray-Tell Me (The Request for Further Information); 7. 'Just to Let You Know..' (The Answer to a Request for Further Information); 8. Come and Join In (Additional Claims Against Third Parties); 9. Pieces of Eight (The Part 8 Procedure); 10. 'To Tell You the Truth...' (Affadavits and Witness Statements); 11. Just a Minute (Minutes and Agreed Orders); 12. Bones of Contention (The Skeleton Argument); 13. A Matter of Opinions (Opinion Writing)

Reviews

Review from previous edition Essential reading for any young solicitor or barrister.' (New Law Journal)