Ever tried reading a contract and wished you had a translator to turn legal gibberish into plain English? It turns out there are actual jobs for that! They’re called “lawyers” Okay, maybe not the big reveal we anticipated.
Business contracts can be dense, complex documents filled with arcane language and confusing terminology that often leaves people figuratively scratching their heads. This unique language is known as “legalese,” and it’s unfortunately the hallmark of many legal documents.
Us lawyers, help decode that foreign language and explain what the contract terms are – you know, so you don’t inadvertently sign your life away.
We are bombarded presented with contracts every day, whether it’s creating a Netflix account or entering an online contest – many of us just click through and accept the terms. The same should not be done when signing contracts pertaining to your business or finances. Well technically, you should never just “click through” but least of all in these cases concerning your livelihood.
Some people don’t realize that when they are presented with a contract from another party that there’s almost always room to negotiate and alter the terms before signing. That’s why you need to let the experts (ahem, us) translate the document for you so you understand exactly what the terms are and whether they are reasonable.
While some law firms still turn to archaic legal language when drafting agreements, some firms (like ours) are modernizing our approach to contract drafting and significantly reducing unnecessary legalese. Yes, that’s right – we are the unsung heroes in business law, cutting back on the legalese in the world, one contract at a time.
Robin K. Mann, Associate Lawyer