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July 31, 2007
Transmittal letters: necessary and appropriate--or lame and insulting?
Dear Ms. Bloor:
Enclosed herewith for your review, kindly please find a true and correct copy of the Writ of Obsequiousness which as you know we on even date filed in [blah blah]...
Unless it serves a purpose, a "transmittal letter" enclosing already self-explanatory documents to judges, court clerks, opposing counsel and clients is a waste of time. It makes the recipient--especially a good business client--think you are going through another time-honored lame lawyer ritual without thinking.
Be different and bold. Reward the reader's intelligence. Use transmittal
letters sparingly and only (1) to document a very important event (meeting a deadline, perhaps) or (2) coupled with an executive summary of lengthy, unexpected or different types of materials so a busy recipient doesn't have to read them.
Note: If an associate or paralegal actually writes "drafted and sent transmittal letter" on time records, it's time for a lively chat.
Posted by JD Hull at July 31, 2007 12:29 AM