FORWARD GC

Share this post
🌠 Why “bottom lining” is the conversation technique you need as a lawyer 
newsletter.lawtrades.com

🌠 Why “bottom lining” is the conversation technique you need as a lawyer 

Raad Ahmed
Sep 2, 2020
Share this post
🌠 Why “bottom lining” is the conversation technique you need as a lawyer 
newsletter.lawtrades.com

If you’re talking shop with a fellow GC, legal lingo is often the best route for getting things done. But your company’s executive and other employees don’t want to hear -- or have the time to hear -- about respondeat superior. 

In a blog post for TechGC, Marqeta chief legal officer Seth Weissman explained a few strategies for business communications as a lawyer with, well, everyone else. He calls it “bottom lining,” and here’s a breakdown of some of the most important tips:

  • The definition of bottom lining: Weissman describes it as distilling “a narrative down to the core elements necessary to have the listener understand what you are conveying.” If you’re bottom lining, then you’re not going on a long tangent with unrelated or unnecessary facts. You’re also not skipping over important details.

  • One good way to ensure you’re bottom lining: It may seem elementary, but Weissman recommends thinking of the who, what, where, when and how. Those are the details people instinctively seek, even with legal issues. 

  • Skip the machinations: Weissman notes that clients and executives often don’t care about understanding the strategies you took to reach a conclusion. Just give them the bottom line and then add more if they ask for it.

Another good tip for improving your skills

A 2014 story about the legal terms you should remove from your writing has been making the rounds on ABA Journal. Check it out here for some good pointers. 

Comment
Share
Share this post
🌠 Why “bottom lining” is the conversation technique you need as a lawyer 
newsletter.lawtrades.com

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 Lawtrades
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing