March 2, 2018 · 3:57 am

Women History Makers in Your Life: Celebrate!

[Picture: Black Actresses & Cast from “Black Panther”]

Women History Month -Celebrate the great women entrepreneurs and market place influencers or world change agents in your life or those you admire from afar and near and just “see them”; or just those who have blessed your life, sown time, love, wisdom and support in your life; or the woman you admire because she models the message of Christ because of their fruitful spirit and are Doers of the Word. You admire the way she manages her household, raises her children and takes care of her family and still does what she does; or the woman who is unassuming, but is there when you need her , you can trust her and she can step in at a moment’s notice.
Take Action:

1. Pray for them. Pray that women will be honored in their unique, God created glory; that every kind of injustice toward women will cease .

2. Let them know what you appreciate about them.

3. Ask what can you do for them.

#BLACKWomen have come a long way. They have made and continue to make their presence, power and skill evident in the marketplace, community, ministry and workplace. They are shattering stereotypes and glass ceilings and are thought leaders, CEO’s , change agents and influencers. They do not let others limit them. They make good lemonade out of lemons, collaborate and make their own way. Sarah Breedlove “Madam C. J. Walker, the first self made woman millionaire, not just the first black woman millionaire , had these wise words to say:
-“I got my start by giving myself a start”.
-“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them”.

Indeed many unsung women have taken her lead and have made their own paths to success, fulfillment and service to others. Celebrate them!

Linda Fegins, “The Prayer Leader” and Law and Appeals.

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February 28, 2018 · 5:41 am

Call to Action: What it is and Why You Need it

Call to Action

“I don’t understand why we don’t get more calls from our website,” Linda Lawyer said to her brother, Lance, at their monthly marketing meeting. “The content is good and the design is attractive. Why don’t visitors contact us?”

“Maybe our call to action isn’t effective,” Lance said. “It’s only on one page.”

Lance is right. Effective calls to action encouraging contact must be easy for prospective clients to find and use.

What is a call to action?

A call to action (CTA) is any section on a website that inspires a visitor to do something. Your CTA should be short, simple, and action-oriented. It should be on each page of your website. It can be a button, text, or a combination of the two. The most common CTAs on an attorney’s website are invitations to call, click to chat, schedule an appointment, or download an e-book.

Making Your CTA More Effective

Personalize your button language. If you offer a free booklet, the download button could read:

Download the e-book,
Download your e-book
Download my e-book

Studies show using pronouns like “your” or “my” is personal and more effective in convincing people to act. Test each word to see which works best with your audience.

Try different words for consultation, case evaluation, or appointment. Those words sound too formal and are too overwhelming for some potential clients who simply want to ask questions. Try phrases such as, “We can help,” “Talk to an attorney,” or “Call us” added to your link to call or complete a contact form. Test to see which terms your readers prefer.

Offer various methods of contact. Some people like to call; your phone number should be on every page. Others prefer e-mail, meet face-to-face by using Zeekbeek’s appointment scheduling feature, or use live chat if you offer that feature. Make sure these options are easy to find.

Speak to your visitors. CTAs should engage your audience. Use active words. Your appointment scheduler can say, “Make an appointment in less than a minute.” Or “It’s easy and takes 40 seconds.” Tell them when they will hear from you and what to expect during that first meeting.

While these suggestions can help, experiment to determine which words, placements, and buttons work best for you. Calls to action are some of the most important language on your web page. Using few words and indicating a minimal time commitment will encourage visitors to act. They can’t be an afterthought. Take time to produce the best CTAs for your firm.

Roberta Gubbins has served as the editor of the Ingham County Legal News. Since leaving the paper, she provides services as a ghostwriter editing articles, blogs, and e-blasts for lawyers and law firms. She is the editor of The Mentor, SBM Master Lawyers Section newsletter.

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February 7, 2018 · 3:21 am

Walk Like A King and Queen

Walk Like A King or Queen

As we celebrate Black History Month remember –Inventors, entrepreneurs, financial wizards, and those who had a great impact on social changes and social justice. Their dreams can be achieved by those of you who make the bold decision to apply your knowledge, your energy and your talent to humanitarian goals. Think of how those we honor today gave to make a difference for others.
If it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership,
let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:8 NIV
#BlackHistoryMonth #CelebrateGiftsofBlackpeople

As we celebrate great African American men and women this month I want to recognize today and thank those whose foundation we walk upon. Those who pressed forward and did not allow challenges and pain to stop them.

Victory of Spirit- Black Quotations- Persevere- Don’t Quit
“You never know which key unlocks the safe” .Bryant Gumbel, former Morning News Host #persevere
Success is achieved by those willing to persevere beyond the point where the majority stop and turn back. Today is your day.
God has given you talents, gifts and His Word. Take another step closer to your goal. Hold fast to the hope, the Word, to “doing” your dream if God put it there. (Hebrews 10:35-39)

I thank God for men and women who have grabbed the baton to make the world a better place and are stepping forward to make the dream work and to pursue their individual dreams. Take for instance husband , father, mentor , leader , instructor and businessman Jessie A. Cole , Jr.

Jesse A. Cole, Jr. stepped up to the challenge of training and working with young males to provide guidance and direction. Cole’s book Walk Like A King: The Young Man’s Guide To Conquering The World was written specifically with the young man in mind to answer questions about: Integrity, Self-Control, Goal Setting, Love, Personal Hygiene, Spirituality, Community Service and Education. The book addresses real life issues with practicality and offers clearly outlined solutions from a male perspective. The imbedded workbook gives the reader an immediate opportunity to implement what they’ve learned and they can track their development with ease.

Respected as “a voice for today’s generation”, Jesse has proven that he is a thought leader and a source of substance. He has published several books on personal development and executive produced the Maximize Your Greatness dvd project. Jesse uses his influence to help teenagers live the type of life that is far above what they could ever imagine. His message helps youth to transform their attitude, boost their self-esteem, overcome peer pressure and enhance their leadership ability. For over a decade, Jesse has worked as a youth counselor, basketball coach, and certified deputy instructor. His motto is K.I.N.G: Keep Investing In The Next Generation.

Jessie was inspired to write the book because of the lack of male presence in the lives of the young men I work with. He found that young boys and men are so hungry for direction and it seemed as if they were receiving little guidance, Therefore Jessie decided to step in and provide hope and fill the void.

When Jessie wrote the book “Walk Like A King” Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday was approaching, Black History month was a the next month .Jessie thought about the men who had deposited into his life. Believing that black young men and men of color need to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, the concept of “walk like a king” rose up in his spirit. A king represents not only royalty, but power. So in essence, Jessie tells young men that they have the ability to walk in power.

Jessie shared that he has had the privilege of seeing his father and other great men walk out there manhood before him. He stated, “I’ve seen them at their highest points as well as their lowest. And the way they handles the pressure of manhood was kingly. Because of their examples, I am able to do the same and deposit back into the next generation of young kings”.

I encourage you to walk like the King or Queen God designed you to be a blessings as others.

Go to Jesse Cole’s website www.WalkLikeAKing.com

JesseSpeaks@gmail.com

“What you want to become depends on your willingness to become it.”

– Jesse A. Co

Linda D. Fegins, The Prayer Leader, ldfaygo@gmail.com

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January 26, 2018 · 3:45 am

Five Things to Do NOW to Win 2018 by Dee Marshall

Hey gorgeous!

It’s mid-January, and for many of us, that means we are tempted to quit (or already have!) whatever resolutions we made. It’s not too late. In fact, now is the time to lay a solid foundation for 2018, resolutions kept or not.

Get organized
New Year’s resolutions can’t get you very far if you don’t have a plan in place for how to achieve them. I regularly use calendars to keep myself organized — a wall calendar, a planner etc. It really doesn’t matter what system you have as long as you have one. Remember, if it’s not written down, it usually doesn’t happen.

Write down your goals
Just as your to-do list is less likely to be completed if it isn’t written down, your goals for the year are the same. People who write down their goals and dreams on a regular basis achieve their desires at a significantly higher level than those who did not. Dr. Gail Matthews found that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams simply by writing them down on a regular basis. Start with the top 10 things you want to accomplish this year. Write it as if it’s already happened.
“I am so grateful I ____________________ this year.”

Make a development plan
Once you have goals you should clarify who you need to become in order to accomplish the goals. In exploring who you need to become you should identify three specific skills/competencies you must master to make it happen. Now, collect everything on that topic and commit to studying that one topic each quarter. The best way to increase your knowledge is to schedule it on your calendar as a 15–20-minute block to read or listen to something educational.

Set a routine
Setting routines is a key to achieving your goals. There’s a saying if you want to change, change something you do daily. Think about what you need to do in order to reach your goal. For example, if you want to be healthier, you’ll need to make changes to your daily habits in nutrition and exercise. Try exercising at the same time every day or keep a water bottle on your desk. Whatever you decide, tie the habit to something you would be doing anyway, like take a sip from the water bottle every time you check email.

Choose a life theme
We become what we focus on, so it’s important to continually turn your attention to what you want to achieve. A simple, yet powerful, way to do this is to determine one word or phrase that sums up what you want to accomplish or who you want to be. For example, if part of your development plan is to speak up in meetings when you have ideas, a phrase to try is “be bold.” The next time you walk into a meeting, repeat the phrase to yourself and picture what it would look like and sound like to be bold. Before you know it, you’ll naturally show up bold in the meetings.

See you at the top!

Dee Marshall

@DeeCMarshall, Event Host

Certified Life Coach, International Speaker, Published Author, TV Lifestyle Contributor, Influencer, Ministry Leader, Doctor of Philosophy, Entrepreneur, Business Woman, United State of Women Nominated Change Maker, Real Estate Investor, Wall Street Alumni, Obama White House, Fire Starter, Cheerleader, Daughter of The King, Prayer Warrior, Bible-Doing Teacher, Hope Dealer, 911 Survivor,

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January 7, 2018 · 10:20 pm

Be Inspired by Biblical New Beginnings

Be Inspired by Biblical New Beginnings
Be Inspired by Biblical New Beginnings

Publication Date: 12/30/2017

Author: Lisa Jones

Let the new beginnings in the Bible inspire us to expect new beginning in our life as we begin the New Year!

Happy New Year! As I ponder new beginnings, I cannot help but to think of the last minute to the greatest of new beginnings. Each second that passes, allows for the beginning of a new place in time. Yes, even something as quick as a second or our next breath is worth giving God praise. Particularly during this time of year, there are many who have not nor will not experience being aware of their next second or more sadly, their next breath.

But God, He is faithful. His operating systems are set up for new. In Genesis, the evening and the morning were considered a full day. And according to our current calendar, we have 365 to 366 new full days per calendar year. What a blessing it is to experience God’s fresh renewal each second, each minute, each hour, each day, each week, each month and each year. The Word of God reminds us that, “[It is of] the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23, KJV)

I always start my mornings reminding God of His faithful promise of His mercies and of His new compassions that never fail because they are new each and every day. New beginnings are always present with us, if we would only take a moment to appreciate them in its finest form. Whether we are beginning anew from a tragic situation, as many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have after the hurricanes and storms of 2017, or whether we are moving to a new neighborhood or taking on new job assignments; new beginnings are a way of life.

Our very lives as Christians, is a new life with so many new beginnings. God’s word says, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Co. 5:17, KJV. ) I love the word “All” in this passage because it is so complete and it mean just what it says, “All things” are new. Our walk is new because we walk after the manner of God’s leading. Our talk is new as we begin to say what God says. Our family is new because we have been adopted as dear children and we share the blood of His Son, Christ Jesus, that connects us as new brothers and sisters.

As we enter into a new year, we are so hopeful of all the new possibilities for a fresh start, a new beginning. A new year provides an opportunity to press “restart” without feelings of failure and missed opportunities from the prior year. Although I do not make New Year’s Resolutions at the beginning of each new year, I do look forward to being recharged, rejuvenated and reenergized to allow God to finish the work He began in me. I look forward to what each new day will bring. I do so with great expectation. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phl 1:6 NLT)

We have so many examples of new beginnings throughout the word of God, but the greatest is the example of Jesus. Although the word of God teaches us that Jesus always existed, he did not always exist as a man on earth. When I think about the sacrifice of God to send His only begotten Son to earth to pay the penalty for my transgressions, I cannot help but to be thankful for the new beginnings I have each day. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jhn 3:16 KJV)

There is no greater love and example of new beginnings than that of Jesus. “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] that to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.” (Jhn 15:13, AMPC) Jesus did that for all who would receive him as Savior and Lord. He laid down his life so that we would have the right to our new life and inheritance to God’s love, God’s promises, God’s grace and God’s compassions each and every second of our new lives in Him. In other words, New Beginnings.

Therefore my brothers and sisters, let each of us approach each new day and this new year, fully trusting God to revive us, to fill us, to release us from our past and to embrace the future He has for us. This is a time of refreshing. This is the time of renewal. This is our hour of rejuvenation. Therefore, “Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him….” (Heb 10:22, NLT) We will then experience New Beginnings, each day as we live out our purpose in full trust and assurance that God is in control and we will rest in His peace that is beyond understanding. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phl 4:7, NLT)

Lisa Jones is “Your Chief Empowerment Officer,” Encouraging, Inspiring and Enriching lives-Externally, Internally and Eternally! She is a businesswoman, minister and founder of Peace Beyond Understanding Ministries. In addition to being a devoted mother, she is dedicated to fufilling her purpose. Every week she ministers to women in prison, providing them with powerful word of encouragement. She is a member of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, Michigan.

Published by Prayer and Praise Magazine Editor and Publisher Sheila Thomas

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January 1, 2018 · 2:21 pm

Marvelous Manifestation New Year 2018

On this Marvelous Manifestation Monday 2018- As you walk in this New Year on this Marvelous Manifestation Monday the first Monday of 2018 do so with great expectation of new beginnings, new opportunities, blessings , favor, renewal and victory. Know that God is going to do great things through you. May God grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans that line up with His will for you and may we shout f or joy over your victory.( Ps 20:6 RSV).

Praise God for His unfamthonable love for you!! Praise Him for daily loading you up with benefits. This is the year of victory and favor for you. Praise Him for the fact that you are still here and looking forward to GREATER in 2018. God is amazing and can “ fix it”, bring you through ,will never leave you ,will help see you through and He listens and answers prayer. Believe and obey His Word. Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Keep praying, pressing forth and pursuing the dreams God has placed in your heart. Don’t be afraid to shine with love and the spirit of excellence.

On this Marvelous Manifestation Monday, praise God for His unfamthonable love for you! What is your expectation for this week, month , and year? Think Big, Do Big and Think Victory! Praise Him for daily loading you up with benefits. This is the year of victory for you. Praise Him for the fact that you are still here and looking forward to GREATER in 2018!! Even if things are not what you want for now, shout for joy with Praise now, because you have a God that can “work it out” by working all things –good ,bad and ugly together for your good (Rom. 8:28-30) if you believe.

New Year Blessings from Linda Fegins of the Fegins Report aka Linda “The Prayer Leader” ldfaygo@gmail.com

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December 2, 2017 · 7:48 am

12 Steps to Building a Powerful Brand Image

By Pam Perry

Building Blocks for A Solid Corporate ID Kit

1. Design a simple logo that attracts attention. Keeping it simple keeps it easy to produce and easy for branding. A good trick is to fax it to yourself and see how it shows up. If it’s confusing over a fax, it’s not a good logo.

2. Create a tag line that encapsulates your brand. Make it succinct and “catchy” so people can remember it. Make your tagline inviting without it sounding too “cutesy.”

3. Choose your brand colors as a reflection of the personality you want to project. Know that you will live with these colors forever. Put thought into why you’re choosing specific colors. Keep the same color-scheme in everything you do.

4. Hire a professional graphic designer to produce your corporate ID kit. That kit includes business cards, letterhead, envelopes, labels, and web site (even if it is just a contact page). Visit something like GoDaddy to buy the URL that will be your web site address. This investment is under $10 per year.

5. Get several professional headshot photos to use in ads, blogs, program books and other media. Image is everything. Investing in a professional photo shoot is the foundation of many graphic items that you will use over and over again.

6. Put your best foot forward on your business cards. This says plenty about you before you even open your mouth. Invest in good, heavy paperstock, Use both sides of the card. Consider putting your “tag line” on the back.

7. Print brochures in mass to send to those that ask for more information when considering you as a guest speaker or to hire you. People want information they can touch, feel, and walk away with to read later, even though you have a website containing all that information. Invest in a simple yet high-quality piece for multiple uses.

8. Design CD or DVD labels to match your corporate ID kit or book. Make sure your web site, social media tags and phone number are on everything that goes out. Yes, that means everything!

9. Order a standard podium cover to match your corporate ID for special meetings in venues like hotels where their name is displayed. Show your own “brand” not the hotel’s. Have people in your audience stare at your name not a hotel’s name.

10. Invest in the special touches that make you stand out in a crowd at places like tradeshows, conference exhibit halls, and conventions. Order items like table cloths, acrylic holders, portable exhibits, retractable floor banners, tabletop displays for your book and tape table.

11. Order premiums that promote your brand or book. These are small details that set you apart from the pack. Get bulks items such as ink pens, bookmarks, magnets, post-it notes, notepads, or mints, to distribute at special meetings or at your book/tape table when you travel.

12. Have postcards or note cards printed to send to media after interviews or to personally keep in touch with select people and prospects. Have the postcards or note cards match your business card in style, prompting brand recognition in the mind of the receiver.

Ministry marketing pioneer, Award-winning social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry helps African American Christian authors garner publicity and leverage online strategies. As a 20-year PR veteran, she is also the co-author of “Synergy Energy: How to Use the Power of Partnerships to Market Your Book, Grow Your Business and Brand Your Ministry.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Author Should Know,” go to http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She offers help through her private mentorship program at http://www.PamPerryMentoring.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Pam_Perry/267934

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November 14, 2017 · 1:36 am

Former President Obama Shows Up For Jury Duty

Obama doesn’t make it onto a jury but is a big hit at the courthouse

By Debra Cassens Weiss

Posted November 8, 2017, 1:27 pm CST

Former President Barack Obama was dismissed from jury duty on Wednesday when he was selected for a jury panel that wasn’t needed for a trial.

While lawyers at Chicago’s Daley Center evidently didn’t need his service, he was a big hit with jurors and others at the courthouse, report the Chicago Tribune, CBS Local and NBC Chicago. Several people took photos or videos and posted them on Twitter. Civil cases are heard at the Daley Center.

Obama traveled to the courthouse by motorcade and shook hands with hundreds of people after his arrival. “Obama worked the jury room,” CBS Local reports, “greeting and thanking other citizens for their jury service.” He signed autographs and copies of his book, but did not allow selfies.

Potential juror Walter Palmer said he felt like he got a golden ticket when he was summoned for jury service on the same day as Obama. The former president’s appearance shows that jury service is “an important duty for all of us,” Palmer told CBS Local. “So if he’s going to show up, I guess we all have to show up for this.”

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November 12, 2017 · 11:45 am

A Season of Thankfulness: Think and Thank

A Season of Thankfulness: Brag on God series. Think and Thank God.

Thankfulness is being so full of thanks that you can’t keep it inside! You need to tell someone and that includes telling the Lord. We just have to tell God “Thank You”. “Thank you Lord for all you have done for me.”

Sometimes people confuse praising the Lord with thanking Him. When we praise the Lord we celebrate Him for who He is. He is Omnipotent. Love. The Almighty God. When we thank God, we celebrate Him for what He does. We praise Him for He is Jehovah-Repheka , God ..Our Healer. We thank Him for healing us.

Join us daily and tell God and us why you thank Him.

Day 11- Brag on God during this Season of Thankfulness – Think and Thank. Think of how you have sooooo much to be thankful for. Thank the Lord. Tell the Lord what you are thankful for. #Seasonofthankfulness #thinkandthankGod #BragonGod
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise. Psalm 138 : 1-2

Brag on God : Season of Thankfulness Think and Thank.
Be thankful. #seasonofthankfulness #bragonGod #whatareyouthankfulfor
Day 12 Brag on God -Think of the Lord’s loving kindness to you. Think of His goodness to you. What are you thankful for?
Now thank the Lord.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

Season of Thankfulness #seasonofthankfulness #bragonGod
Day 13 Brag on God. Think and Thank. Think on all that He has done for you. Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy Praise Him and/or tell him how thankful you are for Him.
Thank Him for the Blood that saves, heals and delivers. I Plead the blood….
We are commanded to enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise (Psalm. 100:4). The giving of thanks and Praise is the key that opens these gates more quickly than anything else. Try it….Tell it.

Thank God fervently,

Linda Fegins “The Prayer Leader”

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October 28, 2017 · 8:54 pm

Comprehensible Writing for Your Clients by Roberta Gubbins

Comprehensible Writing for Your Clients

Organize Contacts Long ago, the drafters of legal documents in the United Kingdom were paid by the word. This led to needless verbiage to raise the word count and fee. The practice was banned in the 19th century, but the habit of creating long wordy documents too dense to understand continued.

In the 90s, an executive memo from President Bill Clinton required government agencies to write in plain English. The Michigan legal community was ahead of the trend away from legalese to plain English with its Plain Language column in the Michigan Bar Journal which began in May 1984, and continues to this day.

Using plain language helps you to be precise in your writing, whether it be a legal contract, an e-mail to clients, or a blog post. Providing clear and succinct information the reader can access quickly and understand helps. Here are a few tips for improving your writing:

The Reader—What kind of client is reading the newsletter, blog, or article? Consider their occupation, age range, level of education, or experience in the field. Give readers as much as they need to understand the situation and explain how the law looks at the problem. Think of talking to the client rather than giving a speech about the topic to your peers.

Help the Reader—Change legalese into plain English, for example:

Delay for defer
Must for shall
Grant for confer
Stop for desist
Reduction for abatement
Follow for comply with

Replace wordy phrases such as prior to, with regard to, or in connection with; these words have little meaning for readers and get in the way of understanding.

Style & Structure

Create white space with bullet points, boldface, lists, or subheads.
Keep sentences and paragraphs short.
Edit ruthlessly cutting out unnecessary words. Using fewer words improves speed, clarity, and impact. Adding more words distracts and slows down reading speed.
Use action verbs. Instead of saying “The bill was passed by the legislature,” try “The legislature passed the bill.” Or, rather than “Billy was arrested by the FBI” use, “The FBI arrested Billy.”
Review the article. Did you start with the most important part? Read the story out loud to find the trouble spots.
Sleep on it. Stephen King advises putting the manuscript in a drawer for six weeks to age. You don’t have that amount of time, but even a few hours can make a big difference.

Clean Up

Don’t rely on a spell checker to catch all errors.
Check for correct use of ‘its’ (possessive) and ‘it’s’ (it is).
Use contractions consistently (e.g. don’t use ‘we’ll’ in one place and ‘we will’ in another.

Finally, have fun with it. It’s not a brief for a judge, it’s a story for your clients. Enjoy the telling.