• Formed in 1981 to provide input on two plain English bills that had been introduced in the Michigan legislature by Representative Nick Ciaramitaro.
• Chaired by Irwin Alterman in 1981 and 1982, and by George Hathaway from 1983 to the present.
• In November 1983 and January 1994 published Plain English theme issues of the Michigan Bar Journal that were coordinated by George Hathaway.
• In May 1984 began a monthly Plain Language Column of the Michigan Bar Journal, edited by George Hathaway from May 1984 to July 1988, and by Joe Kimble from August 1988 to the present.
• In 1992 began giving annual Clarity Awards for clear legal writing.

This supports the following goals and priorities of the state bar:

Goal VII-Public Understanding of and Respect for the Justice System and Profession
Goal VIII-Openness of the Profession
Key Priority of Long Range Plan-Image of the Profession

To promote its goal the Committee separates legal writing into five substantive categories:

1. Laws
2. Lawsuits
3. Contracts
4. Real estate
5. Estate Planning

The Committee then searches for well written specific types of documents in each of the five categories.

The best way to prove that a specific type of legal document can be written in clear language is to find one that has already been written in clear language.

The implication is: If this document can be written in clear language, then why can't you write your document in clear language?