What I Use

Redbook

Bryan A. Garner's Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style has established itself as the go-to source for all questions of legal style.

Bluebook

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to guide for legal citation trusted by legal professionals since 1926.

Garner’s Modern American Usage

Garner’s Modern American Usage has established itself as the gold standard for English usage - the most comprehensive A–Z guide on editorial questions of every kind.

The Winning Brief

Aimed at remedying the 100 most common failings of brief-writers, this book has revolutionized how thousands of lawyers approach persuasive writing in motions and briefs.

Typography for Lawyers

The first guide to the essentials of typography aimed specifically at lawyers.

Arizona Appellate Handbook

Since its inception in 1978, the Arizona appellate handbook has provided concise, detailed explanations of how to conduct virtually any kind of appeal in Arizona.

Additional Recommended Resources

Articles

The Winning Brief summary

A summary of Garner's excellent book, The Winning Brief.

What is “Good Legal Writing” and Why Does it Matter?

Mark K. Osbeck

The Science of Persuasion: An Initial Exploration

Kathryn M. Stanchi

Legal Writing Pro

Several articles written by the Legal Writing Pro, Ross Guberman. Two of my favorites are "Five Ways to Write Like John Roberts" and "Five Ways to Write Like Elena Kagan".

Books

Point Taken

Using excerpts from actual cases and opinions, Guberman offers strategies for drafting introductions, facts sections, and analysis sections.

The Elements of Legal Style

Inspired by the Strunk-and-White classic, this book explains what distinguishes good from poor writing style, with examples from Holmes, Cardozo, Jackson, Scalia, and Easterbrook.

Legal Writing: A Judge’s Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word

A practical book on how to write effectively.