BA LLB University of Melbourne
Admitted, Victoria and New York Bar
Health lawyer and plain English trainer and document writer
Overview Bob is a health lawyer and plain English trainer and document writer. Bob graduated from law school in 1982 and spent several years working in the USA, where he was admitted to the New York Bar.
In 1984, Bob returned to Australia to start a legal practice with a focus on medical negligence and health law.
Bob’s health law experience ― in particular, in professional medical negligence litigation ― made him increasingly aware that a lack of clear communication often lies at the heart of legal disputes. This awareness triggered his original interest in plain legal communication.
Bob’s plain language work
Bob has presented Words and Beyond’s plain-language course – and variations of it – more than 400 times. His plain language training clients include law firms, regulatory bodies, government departments, doctors, scientists, researchers, semi-government agencies, and companies.
In addition to delivering the plain language course, he has also provided training on a range of discrete writing topics including:
• advice-writing;
• email etiquette;
• “frequent flier” issues in grammar, spelling, punctuation and proofreading;
• enforceable undertakings and legislative instruments
• plain language writing of the Participant Information and Consent Form and related materials (medical, scientific and social research)
• jointly with a retired judge, decision-writing and reasons-writing
Document rewriting Bob has rewritten many documents for a range of government, regulatory and commercial clients, including:
• contracts and associated correspondence for a government organisation;
• cost disclosure materials for a major national law firm;
• policies and procedures for a federal legal body
• contracts for a statutory organisation;
• funding letters for a major legal aid body; and
• intranet text for a Commonwealth body.