The maze of the law: How technical writers can research and understand legal matters

In an environment that seems to encourage litigation against business, an organization has a greater responsibility to properly manufacture, sell, and explain the use of its products to its employees and customers than ever before. Part of this responsibility has fallen to technical writers. Their efforts in the areas of writing warnings, product safety policies, instructions, and other documents can prevent or expose a firm to an expensive legal liability. To ensure that their communications are legally correct they may have to research legal references and law books. Unfortunately, the resources of the law are written for attorneys; they tend to be intimidating and difficult to understand. The purpose of this article, therefore, is take writers of technical communications through the procedures necessary to thoroughly research legal thought, court opinions, case law, and statutes on any legal topic.