In Client-Focused Legal Writing, we said that whether a document is well-written is ultimately a judgment your readers make. That judgment depends on whether your readers believe the document meets their needs and expectations. We also said that, by and large, good legal writing satisfies three criteria:

• It’s clear.

• It’s concise.

• It’s engaging.

I. Potential Pitfalls of Email

That goes for everything you write for clients, from your longest advice memos to your briefest emails. But strangely, it’s...