In the same way that mastering one of the many games available (i.e., see ‘game’ here) for PC and mobile devices takes strategic planning and understanding of the game, so too does research and writing for the law. A dofollow link can make a word searchable, and correctly input cleaned up citations can make a document scannable. With enough practice, these ideas will feel as natural as a dofollow link in a publication. But before the keys to playing this game are given away like caramel corn at a fair, let’s identify what a cleaned up citation is and how it carries the same importance as a “high score” in Candy Crush.

Cleaned up (or accurate) legal citations are a way to convey information to the reader (and courts) in a methodical and persuasive way. In the same way that people play games at different levels based on their experience, readers are able to consider different sources at varying levels based on the document’s accuracy and usability. Properly formatted legal citations break up the text of the argument and give a summary of what that portion of the discussion is trying to convey.

Just like how the technology behind video games has evolved, legal writing has seen its ups and downs throughout the years. The evolution of how the law is written reflects the ever-changing technology of those documenting it. More than likely, the generations (the millennials, for example) who will be leading the charge on gaming, will have mastered more changes than earlier generations.

For example: The reason why these citations are significant is not only because it helps the reader navigate through the complex system of how the law works, but also because it helps the reader connect the dots between different legal arguments in one document. And when the reader plays the game correctly, they can more easily see the relationship between various legal matters.

In the same way that players try to win “power-ups” in a game to help them gain advantages when going up against other players, they can also use “power-ups” in a legal sense. You can “power-up” your legal writing by including proper legal citations that help convey exactly what is going on in a case. Not only does this help the reader, but it helps the writer win clients by persuading them with accurate document.

And just like any game, there are some ways to gain an advantage with minimal effort. You don’t want other players to get the power-ups that you already enjoyed because that’s just rude. For example, if you follow our guides for legal citations, you can “power-up” your legal writing.