Lexis Nexis’s Legal Draftsman (2 Volumes) by Hargopal – 16th Edition 2026.

Since its first publication in 1937, this monumental work has completely transformed how legal documentation is approached in the Indian subcontinent. The Legal Draftsman (16th Edition, 2026), published by LexisNexis, is an authoritative and indispensable practical guide to legal drafting. Citing or referencing a format from Hargopal provides immediate structural credibility in a courtroom setting. While the fifteenth edition is still treasured, this new sixteenth edition has been completely restructured to bridge Hargopal’s timeless framework with the complexities of modern, digital, and post-2023 statutory law.

The Complete Dictionary of Deeds & Pleadings

Drafting is an art that requires absolute precision. This 2-volume set provides a unified, localized dictionary of templates tailored specifically to Indian courts:

• Traditional Conveyancing: Foundational, battle-tested scripts for wills, sale deeds, powers of attorney, lease agreements, mortgages, and consumer complaints.

• Modern Corporate Transactions: Highly technical drafts applicable to complex modern transactions, including airtight electronic contracts, digital non-disclosure agreements, and technology licensing formats.

• Criminal Pleadings (BNS Ready): Crucially, the 2026 edition adapts its criminal drafting structures to fit the newly overhauled criminal framework, specifically integrating the procedural shifts required under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Who Should Buy This Book?

• Law Firms & Corporate Counsels: The ultimate in-house repository for structuring airtight commercial agreements, digital contracts, and complex civil conveyancing.

• Litigators & Advocates: Essential for drafting civil pleadings, written statements, and criminal complaints that will not be struck down for structural defects.

• Judges & Judicial Officers: A trusted baseline for evaluating the structural validity and statutory compliance of documents submitted to the court.

• Law Students: The perfect practical companion to bridge the gap between theoretical law school exams and real-world law office assignments.

About the Legendary Author

Shri Hargopal (Late)

Shri Hargopal was a legendary Indian legal author, draftsman, and scholar whose contribution to the field of legal conveyancing and documentation remains unmatched. He pioneered the art of legal drafting in pre-independence India, creating a systematized blueprint that simplified complex statutory language into clear, legally bulletproof templates.

Before his comprehensive work, lawyers had to compile individual precedents from fragmented English legal registries. His original 1937 masterpiece created a unified framework that fundamentally shaped modern Indian legal drafting. Today, decades after his passing, his name is a recognized institutional brand, representing the highest standard of procedural law and documentation across the subcontinent.

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