Clarity International

What Clarity International does

Clarity International is an international nonprofit professional association and the largest organization dedicated to promoting plain legal language, with more than 650 members across 50 countries. The organization serves legal professionals, government agencies, and business/corporate users by advancing plain-language drafting standards and fostering a global network of practitioners. Its core offerings include The Clarity Journal, a peer-reviewed publication on plain legal language; biennial international conferences (Clarity 2018 in Montreal, Clarity 2020 in Washington, D.C.); the IC Clear postgraduate training project co-developed with EU partners; ongoing London Members' Meetings; and an online library of plain-language drafting guides, legislation resources, and organizational links.

The association is governed as a membership organization with elected leadership (President Joh Kirby since October 2013) and a network of country representatives (e.g., Daphne Perry in the UK, German Arenas Arias in Colombia) who coordinate local activity. Revenue is generated through individual membership dues, conference registration fees, and journal-related income; no public pricing is disclosed. Clarity co-founded the International Plain Language Working Federation with PLAIN and the Center for Plain Language and is leading the development of an international standard for plain-language documents, positioning the organization at the regulatory center of the plain-language field. Its domicile is the United States, it has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no external investment funding.

Name

Clarity International

Legal name

Clarity International

Website

https://clarity-international.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clarity International is a nonprofit professional association and the largest international organization promoting plain legal language, serving 650+ members in 50 countries through The Clarity Journal, biennial conferences, London Members' Meetings, and plain-language resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies (BPADAAAJ), Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)

Keywords

• Plain language association
• Legal drafting services
• Professional membership organization
• Plain language standards
• Legal communication network

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Clarity International operates as a membership-based organization with more than 650 members from 50 countries. Members pay dues to access resources, events, and the professional network.
2. Conference Registration Fees: The organization generates revenue through annual conferences including Clarity (held in various locations globally), IC Clear | Clarity joint conferences, and London Members' Meetings.
3. The Clarity Journal: Publication of The Clarity Journal, including archives and educational materials on plain legal language topics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clarity International is a nonprofit professional association that promotes plain legal language worldwide through its membership community of 650+ professionals across 50 countries. Its core offerings include the Clarity Journal (peer-reviewed publication), annual international Clarity conferences, London Members' Meetings, plain language educational resources and drafting guides, and collaborative work on international plain language standards. The organization functions as a knowledge-sharing network for legal, government, and business professionals involved in plain language drafting and clear communication.

Product overview

Clarity International is a professional membership organization (not a software product company) that serves as the largest international plain language association with over 650 members across 50 countries. The organization offers The Clarity Journal as its flagship publication, organizes international conferences (including Clarity 2018 in Montreal and Clarity 2020 in Washington D.C.), provides plain language resources including drafting guides and legislation materials, and participates in the EU-funded IC Clear project for postgraduate training in clear communication. The organization also facilitates London Members' Meetings and collaborates with partner organizations PLAIN and the Center for Plain Language through the International Plain Language Working Federation to develop international standards for plain language documents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Clarity Journal A peer-reviewed journal published by Clarity International covering plain language research, best practices, and developments in the field of clear legal communication. It is targeted at plain language professionals, academics, and practitioners in legal, government, and business contexts.
• Clarity Conferences International conferences bringing together plain language professionals from law, business, and government sectors to share best practices and advance the field. Includes the biennial Clarity conference (Clarity 2018 Montreal, Clarity 2020 Washington D.C.) and joint conferences with partner organizations like IC Clear.
• Plain Language Resources Educational materials and resources covering general plain language guidance, drafting techniques, online tools, legislation resources, and organizational information for plain language practitioners worldwide.
• IC Clear Project An EU-funded project that develops, pilots, and implements postgraduate courses in clear communication to address the growing demand for well-trained plain language professionals. Clarity co-hosts the IC Clear | Clarity Conference.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International Plain Language Working FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Plain Language Working Federation was formed by Clarity with PLAIN and Center for Plain Language to develop an international standard for plain-language documents. Clarity plays a key role in this exciting project to develop an international standard.
• Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLAIN is an international organization that co-founded the International Plain Language Working Federation with Clarity and Center for Plain Language. Joint conferences are held together, including PLAIN 2015 in Dublin.
• Center for Plain Language (US)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA US-based organization that co-founded the International Plain Language Working Federation. Annetta Cheek from Center for Plain Language was appointed as chair of the Federation's standards committee.
• IC Clear (EU funded project)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EU funded IC Clear project develops, pilots and implements a postgraduate course in clear communication. Clarity co-hosted the IC Clear | Clarity Conference 12-14 November.
• Center for Plain Legal Language (University of Sydney)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Robert Eagleson and Peter Butt at the University of Sydney. The Center has had considerable influence in Australia on plain legal language.
• European CommissionmajorOthersMalachy Hargadon, Editor and Clear Writing Campaign coordinator at the European Commission, participates in Clarity events and hosts meetings. The European Commission has implemented a Clear Writing campaign.
• Thomas More University College (Antwerp)minorOthersHost venue for the IC Clear | Clarity Conference 12-14 November.
• National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) IrelandminorOthersCo-host of the PLAIN 2015 conference in Dublin along with PLAIN.
• Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (UK)minorOthersJoint event partner for London Members' Meetings on topics such as legislative drafting and plain language effectiveness.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plain Language Commission: UK Plain Language Commission is a direct peer focused on clear communication training, editing, and review services for legal and government documents, overlapping with Clarity's UK activity and London Members' Meetings audience.
• Center for Plain Language: The US-based Center for Plain Language is a direct peer: co-founder with Clarity of the International Plain Language Working Federation, runs its own awards program and conferences, and serves the same plain language professional and government/enterprise audience.
• Plain English Campaign: UK-based Plain English Campaign is a direct peer: promotes plain language (including legal) in the UK and Ireland, runs the Plain English Awards, and overlaps with Clarity on legal drafting, government documents, and financial services communications.
• Plain Language Association International (PLAIN): PLAIN is the most direct peer to Clarity International: a fellow international plain language association that co-founded the International Plain Language Working Federation, co-hosts conferences (e.g., PLAIN 2015 Dublin, Oslo 2019), and serves overlapping legal and government audiences.

Regional players

• Educaloi: Canadian not-for-profit Educaloi hosted Clarity's 2018 Montreal conference and operates in the same plain legal language space, focused on making Quebec and Canadian law understandable to citizens; comparable mission, narrower geographic scope.

Emerging players

• National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA): Ireland's NALA co-hosted PLAIN 2015 in Dublin with Clarity and PLAIN, and works on plain language and literacy including legal and government communications, making it a regional peer with adjacent rather than identical mission.
• Write Limited: UK-based Write Limited is a plain language consultancy and training provider specializing in clear legal, financial, and government communication, representing the commercial-services side of the same market Clarity serves from the association side.

Others

• IC Clear Project: IC Clear is the EU-funded postgraduate course in clear communication that Clarity co-hosts and promotes; it is an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but operates in the same training and standards space as Clarity's educational initiatives.
• Center for Plain Legal Language (University of Sydney): Founded at the University of Sydney by Robert Eagleson and Peter Butt (former Clarity President), this academic center is closely affiliated with Clarity's Australian roots and shares its plain legal language research and training mission.
• International Plain Language Working Federation: The Federation is the standards body co-founded by Clarity, PLAIN, and the Center for Plain Language to develop an international plain language standard; comparable as an ecosystem initiative rather than a competitor, central to Clarity's standards strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarity-international-plain-language

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Clarity International