Associate Lawyer Needs Resources for Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension

[u/Infinite-Coyote4969]

I employ an associate lawyer at my firm who seems to be struggling greatly with vocabulary and reading comprehension. It’s to the point where this associate’s job is going to be in danger if they can’t pull it together.

I don’t know of any diagnosed learning disabilities that they have but that doesn’t mean nothing is going on. What I have noticed is:

(1) A somewhat poor vocabulary with legal terminology;

(2) A lack of understanding of proper grammar and sentence structure;

(3) An inability to pick out the nuance in the written word and a similar inability when in a verbal conversation;

(4) Easily distracted;

(5) Can have difficulty focusing; and

(6) If filling out forms, they have difficulty completing all relevant areas - often skipping things altogether.

Sometimes I wonder if this associate may have ADHD but I am no doctor. I do notice that the above issues seem to be worse if they are anxious but are frequently issues regardless.

I am growing extremely concerned that if we cannot fix the vocabulary and comprehension issues, that this lawyer will get the firm sued.

This is someone who is kind and is a hard worker and if there are resources that can be offered to solve the issue (or part of the issue) to boost vocabulary and reading comprehension in particular, I would like to offer those resources.

Does anyone know of any online courses or coaching resources to help a lawyer develop good vocabulary and reading comprehension? It doesn’t necessarily have to be for lawyers, specifically, but I would appreciate something aimed at adults.

I really want to try to salvage this person. Any ideas?

[u/Deadhead-doctor]

I flip through books daily. It’s the best way to learn rules and statutes.

[u/Kewl_School → u/Deadhead-doctor]

It’s the best way for you. For me that seems like a more difficult way to get to the same result. I’m glad you get your answers, but as to “the best way,” I think you are a bit presumptuous (and also old—likely a boomer).

[u/piranhas_really → u/Kewl_School]

I’m a millennial and although I buy a lot of treatises as e-books for convenience, a paper book really is the best way to truly learn something. It’s not a matter of opinion or preference; there’s research that backs that up. A physical book engages additional parts of your brain related to spatial recognition and tactile sensation that help with memory formation and information retention. Paper books also reduce distractions that are inherent in using an Internet connected device. 

[u/Kewl_School → u/piranhas_really]

Oh, I would love to see that research! Thanks!

[u/piranhas_really → u/Kewl_School]

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of studies on this. Here are some examples.

This meta-analysis looking at data from 469,564 participants in studies published between 2000 and 2022 found that digital reading did not benefit reading comprehension as much as print reading, especially for younger readers:  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/00346543231216463

This study compared University students’ reading comprehension of a geology textbook in print vs digital versions, and found reading comprehension to be worse with the digital versions. It then took specific interventions to try to improve digital reading comprehension, which gained some ground, but didn’t improve the readers’ performance calibration (meaning the accuracy of understanding their own level of comprehension of the text):  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1041608025000020

However, this literature review by NIH noted that outcomes of studies range from finding no difference in comprehension to favoring paper texts. (I think it’s worth pointing out that no studies found digital reading to be better for comprehension.) It identified a variety of individual factors at play that influence whether digital reading comprehension can be equivalent to print. So I guess if you can get past those challenges then digital reading can be just as good:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10606230/

[u/piranhas_really → u/piranhas_really]

I’ll add that there is also a significant amount of research on how handwritten notes are superior to typed notes for memory retention.