A law can only shape behavior if it is communicated

Evidence

What can we say about the factors that influence legal behavior? First of all, the law must be communicated. It makes no sense to analyze my behavior in terms of obedience, disobedience, use, nonuse, or evasion, if I have no idea what the rule in question is. The rule, in other words, has to be communicated to me, and I must have some knowledge of its contents. — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law, 1055

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Most legal behavior involves using law rather than obeying it — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law: An Introduction, 1041; Rules aimed at everyone are the hardest to communicate — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law: An Introduction, 1056; Poor Americans remain largely ignorant of their legal rights — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law: An Introduction, 1061 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Effective legal communication requires balancing clarity against condescension #expands (0.85) — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 688