When determining how policy is to be translated into legal rules, the drafter needs to thoroughly examine and understand what it is policy makers require. Although the drafter may well have been consulted, or even involved, at the policy making stage, the formal starting point in the translation process should be the reception of drafting instructions. The drafter should, in obtaining the necessary depth of understanding of the policy, be prepared to ask searching questions.
Good quality legislation is understandable and accessible. Poor quality legislation is often neither and can incur heavy political, economic, social and environmental costs. The capacity to understand policy by asking searching questions of those responsible for formulating policy, and to write clear rules is therefore the main task required of the drafter.
This programme aims to develop, in an interactive and highly practical way, an understanding of the analytical skills required to convert policy into legislation and to provide an appreciation of the way in which legislation should be effectively drafted and structured. Participants will be encouraged to put learned skills into practice in a series of written exercises.