A new study suggests that legal documents may be intentionally vague as part of power strategy and a subtle form of classism. Researchers at the European University Institute analysed legal and non-legal texts and surveyed non-native English speakers on the clarity of language. They found legal writing more complex by some measures even while the non-legal English contained more specialised words - indicating the complexity can't only be attributed to technical vocabulary. Additionally, non-lawyer readers found legal content confusing because of poor sentence structure. The analysis implies that this intentional complexity in legal documents functions to exclude the majority and maintain or grow the power dynamic that favours lawyers who specialise in understanding these opaque expressions. While lawyers often explain away legal language's complexities due to precision requirements, non-lawyers tend to perceive this opaqueness as a power device that excludes them from full understanding and participation in legal matters.