Legal Writing

Famed sports agent Mark H. McCormack, who has been credited for inspiring the film Jerry McGuire, once wrote, "A lot of memos would be more persuasive if their first and last paragraphs were switched."

This week, when you've finished drafting each piece of writing, ask yourself whether you could  make it more effective by taking McCormack's advice. Even if you decide not to literally switch the beginning and ending paragraphs, just asking the question may alert you to ways to improve how your message ends and begins.