A Paralegal’s Guide for Drafting Pleading

» Articles » Paralegal Articles » Article

February 02, 2022
Author: Lorman Education

A pleading, in legal terms, is used to explain the purpose of the documents that contain the claims or defense filed by the parties with the court. In layman’s terms, it is a formal statement that sets out the issues that have to be tried. These are short and plain statements that set the grounds upon which a party has a basis to the claim.

The 3 Vital Elements of Pleading

The following are three vital elements of pleading according to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure:

  • A short statement of the grounds on which the court’s jurisdiction depends
  • A short statement of the claims that the plaintiff or pleader is entitled to
  • The demand for judgment for the relief the plaintiff or pleader seeks

Title of the Pleading

The point of the complaint is to state enough information to inform the opposing party of the nature of the claim that is drawn against them. It does not require any conclusions or facts to establish the essentials of a cause of action.

When forming a pleading, you should keep a checklist of the various claims that need to be included in the complaint and have a basis to prove each of those claims. Generally, the title of the pleading is self explanatory as is created by the plaintiff. If there are multiple plaintiffs or defendants represented by a separate counsel, you would need to include the name of the party in the title to avoid confusion.

Jurisdiction and Venue

After introducing the nature of the complaint in the opening sentence, you will need to make sure that you include the jurisdiction and venue of the court in the complaint. Each court has a different jurisdiction. For the complaint to be justified, it will have to address the right court with the proper subject matter jurisdiction. The venue of the court is the geographical area in which a case can be heard and determined.

When choosing an appropriate venue you must keep in mind several key elements such as the cost to your client, statues of limitations, choice of judges, basis to prove your client’s claim or claims, allowable damages, and prospective jury pools. If you do not have the proper jurisdiction or venue, you are giving the opposing party an opportunity to have the law suit dismissed before being heard. 

Organizing your Thoughts

The key to drafting a successful pleading is to make sure that you have a clear idea of what the claims are that your client is making and relevant proof for each of those claims. Then you should state the events in a chronological and logical order.

Do not try and use multiple theories to prove your claim as it will create unnecessary confusion for the judge to rule in your favor. Make sure that your theory is simple so as to avoid broadening the scope of discovery in the claim which will increase your client’s litigation cost.

The point of pleading is to create a cause of action that is backed by a legal theory that allows the plaintiff to make an allegation with the right to judicial relief.

For more information

For in-depth procedures on key paralegal functions or to obtain NALA or NFPA training, browse hundreds of live and ondemand courses in the Lorman course library.

More Paralegal Articles

The material appearing in this web site is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The information provided herein is intended only as general information which may or may not reflect the most current developments. Although these materials may be prepared by professionals, they should not be used as a substitute for professional services. If legal or other professional advice is required, the services of a professional should be sought.

The opinions or viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Lorman Education Services. All materials and content were prepared by persons and/or entities other than Lorman Education Services, and said other persons and/or entities are solely responsible for their content.

Any links to other web sites are not intended to be referrals or endorsements of these sites. The links provided are maintained by the respective organizations, and they are solely responsible for the content of their own sites.