It’s legal, but not full of legalese

The Best Plain Language Legal Document award recognises the best example of a legal document written in plain language. The document must be owned by a New Zealand or Australian organisation.

Entries are judged against internationally accepted principles of plain language.

Read our blog on why legal writing doesn’t need legalese

View videos from two of our 2021 legal category judges in our gallery:

• Andrew Pegler
• Jacqueline Stephenson

Entries are open 1 May to 15 July.

Read the terms and conditions, including the fees, for entering the Plain Language Awards

Please email enquiries@plainlanguageawards.org.nz if you have any questions.

What you need to know

Entries for this award will be documents used in legal contexts or for legal purposes, such as contracts, agreements, terms and conditions, notices, deeds, judgments, legal opinions, and so on. The document may cover a legally enforceable Act, process, obligation, or right.

On the entry form you’ll need to give information about the purpose of the document, your target reader, and whether your document was user-tested.

You can enter print (in pdf form) or online versions of your legal document.

If your document improves on an earlier version, consider also entering it in the Best Plain Language Turnaround award.

Prizes for this award

The winner of the Best Plain Language Legal Document award will receive:

• a stunning steel and bronze trophy produced for the Awards by Wellington sculptor Campbell Maud
• the latest StyleWriter plain English editing software — single-user licence (from Editor Software)
• a place on any of Write Limited’s 1-day open workshops (to be booked before 31 March 2024)

Read the terms and conditions, including the fees, for entering the Plain Language Awards

Please email enquiries@plainlanguageawards.org.nz if you have any questions.