Abraham Lincoln as a Legal Writer
11 Pages Posted: 15 Mar 2010 Last revised: 1 May 2011
Date Written: March 12, 2010
Abstract
This article draws on a recent collection of Abraham Lincoln’s legal papers as well as on secondary sources to show how Lincoln developed his genius as a writer. The article then discusses characteristics that made his writing so eloquent. It concludes that today’s lawyers might profitably emulate Lincoln’s close study of great literature as well as his clear, succinct writing style.
Keywords: Abraham Lincoln, legal writer, succinct, poetry, rhetorical devices, logic, precision
JEL Classification: K10
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Fischer, Judith D., Abraham Lincoln as a Legal Writer (March 12, 2010). Nevada Law Review, Vol. 11, p. 82, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1569758
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