For example, Kenneth Chestek found that judges, law clerks, and practicing lawyers rated
sample briefs with strong narrative components as more persuasive than
sample briefs without strong narrative components.13 Sean Flammer found that judges rated
sample briefs as more persuasive when they were written in plain language rather than in
legalese.14 Similarly, Robert Benson and Joan Kessler found that appellate judges and their law clerks preferred briefs written in plain language rather than in
legalese.15 Finally, Joseph Kimble and Steve Harrington found that judges and attorneys preferred plain language over
legalese.16 These studies, however, measure only the judges» and lawyers» stated preferences for particular styles
of writing.