Legal Writing Prof Blog

Rhode Island writer

LRW Professor Tony Simpson, at Roger Williams University School of Law, has recently published Rhode Island Civil and Appellate Procedure.  His co-authors include Robert B. Kent, former Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Robert G. Flanders, and attorney David Wollin.  This book updates Kent's 1969 edition.

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new Section newsletter

The spring newsletter of the AALS Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research has just been released. Our newsletter is better than ever, thanks to the work of our secretary Lou Sirico.

This issue contains:

* stories from the January conference in Washington, DC,

* news of promotions, moves, accomplishments, and publications

* announcements for Section leadership and the Section award

* committee assignments for the Section's ongoing work

* and more!

The newsletter is posted at http://www.law.pace.edu/aals/pdf/Newsletter%202006%20Spring.pdf, compliments of Tom McDonnell and Pace University.

You can also go to the Section's website at www.law.pace.edu/aals.

Thanks to Lou and Tom for their outstanding contributions to our Section!

- Suzanne Rowe
  Section Chair

Homer honored

LRW Professor Steven Homer, at the University of New Mexico School of Law, recently won a teacher-of-the-year award for non-tenure track faculty.  Only three such awards were given out university wide.

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Boston Legal and Star Trek

If you're a closet (or proudly public!!) fan of both series, check out "Boston Legal Themes and Allusions in Comparison with Star Trek."

(njs)

legal fiction competition

Today's earlier posts prove that in law fact is often stranger than fiction.  But if you've got what it takes to write great legal fiction, you may be interested in the 5th Annual National Legal Fiction Competition for Lawyers.  Got 2,500 words worth of a short story or novel just lying around?  You'll need to submit it by June 30th.  (spl)

"What, fisty-cuffs?"

There was some discussion earlier today on the legal writing professors' listserve about a motion requesting a court to order a fist fight.  The document is available at http://www.legalreader.com/archives/images/fistfight.pdf.

Perhaps the movant's success will depend on the exact wording of the provision prohibiting dueling in the state's criminal code?  Such provisions, BTW, are often excellent fodder for statutory construction exercises in legal writing class.

(spl)

P.S.  The quote in this post's title is from the song I'd Do Anything For You in the musical Oliver.

Is a cow a motor vehicle?

Is a cow a "land motor vehicle" as required for coverage under an insured's uninsured motorist provision in an automobile insurance policy?  An Ohio appeals court answers that burning question in Mayor v. Wedding.

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Ralph Brill to be honored

On June 12, Ralph Brill of Chicago Kent College of Law will receive the Burton Award for Outstanding Contributions to Legal Writing Education.  George Will, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, will first speak at the Great Hall in the Library of Congress; then Professor Brill will be presented the award as one of the "Legends in Law."

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Dayton update

Professor Susan Wawrose received a unanimous vote for a five-year contract from the faculty at the University of Dayton School of Law.  Before beginning that contract though, she will be enjoying a two-year stay in Luxembourg with her family.

In the fall the Dayton legal writing faculty will also be welcoming two new professors, Kristen Safier and Julie Zink.

(spl)

ALWD announces election results

Kristen Gerdy (Brigham Young), the President of the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD), has announced the following election results:

President-Elect:
Terrill Pollman (Nevada-Las Vegas)

new members of the Board of Directors:
Nancy Dickhute (Creighton)
Lisa McElroy (Southern New England)
Judy Rosenbaum (Northwestern)

They will be joining:

Incoming President:
Craig Smith (Vanderbilt)

Treasurer:
Grace Wigal (West Virginia)

Corporate Secretary:
Molly Lien (John Marshall)

continuing members of the Board of Directors:
JoAnne Durako (Stetson)
Eric Easton (Baltimore)
Diane Penneys Edelman (Villanova)
Hether MacFarlane (McGeorge)
Mary Barnard Ray (Wisconsin)
David Romantz (Memphis)
Judy Stinson (Arizona State)

(spl)

Congratulations Ruth Anne!

Professor Ruth Anne Robbins has been awarded a Provost's Award for Teaching Excellence at Rutgers University School of Law - Camden.  Only three of these awards were given campus-wide, and Ruth Anne is the only recipient in the law school this year.  The award committee noted "the exemplary commitment to exceptional teaching displayed by the recipients."

(spl)

job opening in D.C. THIS FALL

American University, Washington College of Law, has announced that it is seeking applicants for one or more full-time Legal Writing Instructor positions beginning fall semester 2006.  Jeremy Mullem, the Acting Associate Director of the legal writing program, encourages interested potential candidates to contact him ASAP at jmullem@WCL.AMERICAN.EDU.  Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to American University, Washington College of Law, Office of the Dean, Suite 366, 4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016.

1)  The position advertised may lead to successive long-term contracts of five or more years.
2)  The professor hired will not be permitted to vote at faculty meetings.
3)  The school anticipates paying an annual academic year base salary in the range of $60,000 to $69,999.
4)  The number of students enrolled in each semester of the courses taught by the legal research & writing professor will be 41 to 45.

(spl) 

   

more recommended reading

Related to the topic of helping law students and lawyers find a sustainable balance in their careers is an article by Angela Burton, Cultivating Ethical, Socially Responsible Lawyer Judgment:  Introducing the Multiple Lawyering Intelligences Paradigm into the Clinical Setting,"  11 Clin. L. Rev. 1 (2004).  Some of her suggestions are also natural fits for the simulation courses, like 1L legal research and writing, that serve as prerequistes to law school clinic courses.  (spl)

recommended reading

Given that many students enter law school with altruistic motivations and then graduate with changed priorities, professors and students alike may want to read a new book by David Hall, The Spiritual Revitalization of the Legal Profession.  It's not entirely what it sounds like from the title.  For an enticing review, click on http://www.lexisone.com/balancing/articles/b040006h.html.  (spl) 

writing test for law job applicants?

In an article reprinted in the Michigan Bar Journal from the June 200 issue of Trial, Joe Kimble suggests that potential employers assess applicants for legal jobs by testing their writing skills.

(njs)