TIL a paralegal friend told me my retainer letters sound like ransom notes | Legal Business Services - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

Lisa Sanchez · 2026-07-18T06:05:03.450323+00:00

She pointed out I was using too much stiff legal jargon and suggested I just talk normal. Has anyone else had a colleague gently tell you your paperwork is scaring people off?

sean482mo ago

Oh man, I totally did that same thing with my emails once (yikes).

6

robin8962mo ago

Oh man, my first draft looked like a mob threat too.

4

sandragrant2mo ago

okay so i'm wondering if maybe the real issue isn't the jargon but the tone. like ransom notes are threatening and demanding right? maybe you're accidentally writing in a way that feels aggressive or accusatory even if you don't mean to. i had a coworker once who wrote everything like she was scolding someone and she had no idea.

3