A law style guide is a set of standardized guidelines for writing and formatting legal documents. These guidelines ensure that legal documents are clear, consistent, and easy to read, which is important for ensuring that the documents are understood by all parties involved. In New Zealand, there are several different law style guides that are commonly used, each of which has its own set of rules and guidelines.
One of the most widely used law style guides in New Zealand is the New Zealand Law Style Guide, which is published by the New Zealand Law Society. This guide provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for legal writing, including rules for formatting, citation, and language use. The guide also includes a section on drafting contracts, which provides tips and best practices for drafting clear and concise agreements.
Another commonly used law style guide in New Zealand is the Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities, which is published by the Oxford University Press. This guide provides a standard system for citing legal authorities in legal documents, including cases, statutes, and secondary sources such as legal encyclopedias and treatises. The guide also includes guidelines for citing electronic sources, such as online databases and websites.
In addition to these general law style guides, there are also specialized guides that focus on specific areas of law. For example, the New Zealand Employment Law Guide is a resource specifically designed for lawyers and other professionals working in the field of employment law. It provides guidelines for drafting employment contracts, policies, and other documents related to the employment relationship.
Overall, law style guides are an essential tool for lawyers and other legal professionals in New Zealand, as they provide a set of standardized guidelines for writing and formatting legal documents. These guidelines help to ensure that legal documents are clear, consistent, and easy to understand, which is critical for ensuring that the legal system operates efficiently and effectively. So, it is very important to follow the law style guide template in order to make the legal documents error-free and clear.
