Written by: Alexander D´Oleo

March 6, 2026 Dominican Republic Laws

It is very common for lawyers to write and speak as though their typical audience and clients were always other lawyers. This often results in only a limited understanding by those listening to us. We view this as a selfish practice that, beyond effectively communicating an idea, seeks to appear wise, intellectual, or perhaps even cultured.

Far from achieving that, however, many people end up seeing us as “characters,” to the point where, when familiarity exists, someone might jokingly say: “Here comes this one again with his fancy Sunday words…”

Within the lawyer-client relationship, this manifests itself through the excessive use of technical jargon, doctrinal references, famous quotations, statutory citations, Latin expressions, and complex legal constructions that, although technically correct, do not necessarily fulfill the most important objective of our profession: properly guiding the client.

It is not unusual to come across contracts, reports, or emails filled with legal language that, to us, appears clear and natural, but which for the client may feel confusing, distant, or even somewhat intimidating.

This raises an interesting question: Who are we really trying to serve with that kind of language?

By nature, the law requires precision. But precision does not mean unnecessary complexity. Lawyers must possess the ability both to master technical language and to translate it. A good lawyer not only interprets the law; they also interpret the client’s problem and explain it in terms the client can understand and use to make decisions.

The way lawyers communicate depends on the audience. One does not speak in the same way:

• to a judge,
• to another lawyer,
• to a businessperson,
• to a foreign investor,
• or to a family purchasing their first property.

Each audience requires clarity within its own context.

When a client consults us, they are not necessarily looking for a lecture on the law. They are seeking guidance, certainty, judgment, and the presentation of viable strategies. They want to understand what is happening, what their risks are, and what decisions they should make.

If the client leaves the conversation more confused than when they arrived, then we have probably failed to communicate effectively, even if our legal analysis itself was impeccable.

In that sense, perhaps one of the greatest challenges of modern legal practice is not impressing others with technicalities, but guiding them with clarity.