The Absurdity of Overcomplicating Simple Legal Stuff

Why Can’t We Just Say It?

Look, I’ve been in this legal racket for over two decades. Twenty-one years, to be exact. And honestly? I’m tired. Tired of the jargon, the runarounds, the way we lawyers love to take the simplest things and make them sound like they require a PhD to understand.

I remember back in ’99, during my first year at the firm, a colleague named Dave—let’s call him Dave—sat me down and said, “Listen, kid, the law’s a language. And the more you can make it sound like you’re speaking in tongues, the more they’ll think you know what you’re talking about.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that doesn’t mean we gotta be complete jerks about it, right?

Take contracts, for example. Why do we insist on making them sound like they were written by Shakespeare on a bad hair day? I had a client last Tuesday—a sweet old lady, really—who looked at her lease and said, “Honey, I need a dictionary just to figure out where to sign.” And she’s not wrong. It’s like we’re trying to hide something, or worse, we’re showing off. Newsflash: no one’s impressed.

And Don’t Get Me Started on Fine Print

Oh, the fine print. That little section at the bottom of every agreement that we all pretend to read but never actually do. I mean, who has the time? Who wants to spend 36 hours deciphering legalese just to buy a toaster? But here’s the thing: it’s not just toasters. It’s everything. Your phone contract, your gym membership, even that entertainment events agenda you signed up for last summer. It’s all a mess.

I had a friend, let’s call him Marcus, who signed up for one of those meal delivery services. You know the ones—I mean, honestly, who doesn’t these days? Anyway, he got this huge bill at the end of the month, and he’s like, “What the heck is this?” Turns out, there was a clause in the fine print about some kinda committment to a yearly plan. Which he didn’t even read, obviously. But hey, that’s on him, right? No, it’s not. It’s on us. We need to stop hiding behind this wall of text and just say what we mean.

Let’s Talk About Rights (Because Apparently, No One Else Will)

And look, I get it. The law is complicated. There are rules and regulations and amendments and all that jazz. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make it a little more accessible. I mean, have you ever tried to read the physicaly health and safety regulations for a small business? It’s like reading a foreign language. And it’s not just the language—it’s the sheer volume of it. It’s like they’re trying to bury us in paperwork.

I had a client once, a small business owner, who spent $87 on a lawyer just to tell her what she could and couldn’t put on her store’s sign. $87! For a sign! And it’s not like she was putting something crazy up there. Just her name and the hours she was open. But no, there’s a rule for that. And another rule for the rule. And a rule about the rule for the rule. It’s ridiculous.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be this way. We can make the law simpler. We can make it easier to understand. We can stop hiding behind jargon and just say what we mean. And honestly, I think we owe it to ourselves—and to our clients—to do just that.

A Quick Digression: The Time I Tried to Understand Tax Law

Oh, tax law. Where do I even start? I mean, I’m a lawyer, not an accountant, but even I know that tax law is a complete and total mess. I remember last year, I was trying to figure out some deductions for my home office. And I’m sitting there, staring at this massive tome of a book, and I’m like, “What is this? It’s like they’re speaking in code.” And honestly, they kinda are. It’s like they don’t want us to understand it. Like they want us to just throw our hands up and say, “Fine, take whatever you want.”

But here’s the thing: I’m not gonna do that. I’m not gonna just give up and let them win. Because that’s what it feels like sometimes—like a game, and they’re always one step ahead. But I’m not gonna play that game anymore. I’m gonna fight back. I’m gonna read the fine print. I’m gonna ask questions. And I’m gonna make them explain it to me in plain English.

Back to the Point (Because I Do Have One)

Look, I’m not saying the law is easy. It’s not. It’s complex and nuanced and there are a lot of gray areas. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make it a little bit simpler. A little bit more accessible. A little bit more human.

And honestly, I think that’s what we owe to our clients. We owe it to them to make the law understandable. To make it relatable. To make it something they can actually use to protect themselves and their rights. Because at the end of the day, that’s what the law is supposed to be about—protecting people. Not confusing them. Not burying them in paperwork. Not making them feel like they need a law degree just to figure out what’s going on.

So let’s make a pact, you and I. Let’s agree to stop overcomplicating things. Let’s agree to say what we mean and mean what we say. Let’s agree to make the law a little bit simpler, a little bit more accessible, and a little bit more human. Because honestly, we could all use a little bit of that these days.

About the Author
Sarah Jenkins has been a senior editor at Legal Guides for over two decades. She’s seen it all, done it all, and has the war stories to prove it. When she’s not wrestling with legal jargon, she’s probably outraged about something—usually involving poor customer service or overly complicated instructions. You can find her ranting on Twitter or hiding out in her favorite coffee shop, plotting her next editorial take-down.

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