Clicklaw Wikibooks Contributor Guide

This is a help page for contributors or users.

• This page contains no legal help information.
• See other Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides.

This is a guide for editors and contributors who have accounts with Clicklaw Wikibooks, and who are actively responsible for editing content. The Clicklaw Wikibooks Contributor Guide is designed to get wiki contributors started. If you are not a Clicklaw Wikibooks contributor, but are a contributor to the main Clicklaw website and looking for support, please see the Clicklaw Website Contributor Guide.

Before you edit

Know what content you are responsible for

Be conscientious about which page you are editing. Several different titles, or wikibooks, reside on this platform. Please only edit pages from those titles (or chapters within titles) for which you are responsible. Generally, let your discretion guide you, or email editor@clicklaw.bc.ca for help.

But also...

Relax, you can't screw up

Yes. Can't screw up. You literally can't damage a page so badly that it cannot be restored. One of the best things about this wiki platform is that each page has a "History" of older versions, including the one you just saved over. You (or another person) can always undo an edit and restore an older version of a page.

Remember, we won't ask you to do anything we haven't taught you to do

We are not asking you to become a computer programmers. But a minimum knowledge of the tools is required. Other than knowing how to log in, navigate around, and where to find things like the "Edit" tab, you will need to know how to:

1. create (or fix) links to cases, legislation, other web resources,
2. make lists (like this numbered list),
3. create emphasis for key words or documents using italics, or in rare cases bold,
4. divide pages with section headings and subheadings,
5. indent paragraphs or blocks of text,
6. create text in a plain format (for legislation excerpts), and
7. understand a few technical things that are happening and the limited things you need to know to:

• change what alert boxes are saying on pages,
• work with your contributor bio page,
• understand some of the weird coding and know what to leave alone,
• maybe change the contents of tables, and
• participate in Discussion pages (these are locked down so only editors can see Discussions about a page).

This page shows you how to do the above, and you are not expected to do anything technically beyond what is explained here.

Logging in to your new account

Everyone who contributes to Clicklaw Wikibooks will be given an account. All of your work is linked to your account, so it’s important to use the same account every time.

1. You will receive an email from editor@clicklaw.bc.ca containing your username and password.
2. Go to http://wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/.
3. Use the "Log in" button at the top right to log in with the username and password supplied in the email.
4. Change your password to something secure that you will remember (if you need to find the Change Password page, it’s http://wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/index.php?title=Special:ChangePassword).

Write in plain language

A short definition of "Plain English"

Brian Garner, from Legal Writing in Plain English, 2001, pp xiv:

A word about "plain English." The phrase certainly shouldn't connote drab and dreary language. Actually, plain English is typically quite interesting to read. It's robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. You achieve plain English when you use the simplest, most straightforward way of expressing an idea. You can still choose interesting words. But you'll avoid fancy ones that have everyday replacements meaning precisely the same thing.

Plain language tips

We are writing with the public reader in mind, not lawyers or other legal advocates. Depending on the wikibook, you may need to aim for a very low reading level. For example, Legal Help for British Columbians serves very basic information so people can take the first step towards finding help for their common legal problem. JP Boyd on Family Law, on the other hand, presumes a higher reading level, since it offers motivated self-represented individuals a slightly more detailed description of family law. Both groups of readers benefit from plain language writing methods. Some tips to consider when writing or reviewing legal information for the public:

1. Think about your reader and question what they know or don't know.
2. Think about questions your readers will have on the topic, and organize your thoughts accordingly.
3. Summarize main points using headers.
4. Organize steps or similar information with lists.
5. Write brief sentences and keep paragraphs short.
6. Use common phrases and words.
7. Avoid unnecessary descriptive adverbs and words.
8. Write in the active voice and keep verb and subject close together.
9. Ask another reader to evaluate your writing.

More reading about plain language

• CBA PracticeLink: Plain language legal writing
• Before and After Comparisons from www.plainlanguage.gov

Editing content

• Editing a Page on Clicklaw Wikibooks
• Clicklaw Wikibooks Cheatsheet (for key wiki codes and shortcuts)

Commenting on content

• Discussing a Page with Other Contributors

Additional resources

The Clicklaw Wikibooks Style Guide highlights key style and word usage for pages on Clicklaw Wikibooks.

The MediaWiki website also includes excellent support material — for example, instructions on navigating a wiki, editing pages, and much more. (MediaWiki is free, open source software that powers Clicklaw Wikibooks, as well as the hugely popular Wikipedia.)

For further information

This Guide is maintained by the Clicklaw site editors. For more information or support, please contact editor at clicklaw.bc.ca.