I'm not a lawyer, but I took a few courses on legal English at university. These courses predominantly approached the subject matter from a linguistic, rather t

I'm not a lawyer, but I took a few courses on legal English at university. These courses predominantly approached the subject matter from a linguistic, rather than a professional point of view. I find the language of common law, its richness, and history to be quite fascinating. The nuances and details it is able to convey are astounding. Legal doublets such as "cease and desist" or "terms and conditions" are an example of this. These phrases originated when multiple languages (i.e., Norman French, Middle English, and Latin) were used simultaneously in English society. Often consisting of two near synonyms, one from an Anglo-Saxon / Old English origin, one from a French or Latin one, these doublets helped with clarifying intent for readers with different native language backgrounds.