Legal Writing Prof Blog

shifting the focus of LRW instruction

Emory University School of Law recently announced that Tina Stark will be joining its faculty this fall, as Executive Director of their new Transactional Law Center, with the title “Professor in the Practice of Law.”

The legal academy's emphasis on teaching students to "think like lawyers" has mostly meant teaching them to "think like litigators."  Emory's goal is to teach students to think like transactional lawyers, like deal lawyers.  Professor Stark will teach contract drafting and also train a group of adjunct faculty to teach contract drafting and other transactional skills courses.  The Transactional Law Center also will be holding conferences and sponsoring research on the teaching of transactional law and skills.

hat tip:  Prof. Anne M. Rector, Emory University

(spl)

quote for the day

"Does anybody learn writing, or do they just touch someone who lets them see the power of the deleted word?"

- Richard Bach, "Running from Safety" (1994)

(found at http://www.eloquentarrow.com/archive_view.php?action=view&id=67)

(njs)

call for papers

Stetson College of Law is seeking submissions from professors, legal scholars and non legal scholars on the topic of Culture, Language and the First Amendment. The Imus/Rutgers controversy has spurred discussions from many sectors of American life, and Stetson's goal is to provide a forum for discussion of this controversy and its many facets.  The deadline for final drafts of articles for consideration is August 1, 2007. Articles should be 15 to 30 pages long, including footnotes, and on any topic involved in the general theme.  Contact Professor Dorothea Beane, Beane@law.stetson.edu, at Stetson College of Law, if you have questions.

hat tip:  Prof. Ellen Podgor, Stetson University

(spl)

of monkeys and the law

An attorney's word choice in a brief led to a reprimand by the Delaware Supreme Court . . .

(njs)

call for proposals

Professor Cynthia Bulan has sent a reminder that the deadline is June 1st to submit a proposal to speak at the Southeast Legal Writing Conference, which will be held at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday and Saturday September 7th and 8th.  The topic for the conference is Teaching the Basics:  Practical Ideas for the Legal Research and Writing Classroom.  The conference ogranizers welcome presentations that are 20, 30, or 50 minutes long; their goal is to maximize the number of people who will have an opportunity to present.  Your proposal needs to include a paragraph summarizing your presentation, the amount of time you're requesting (20, 30, or 50 minutes), and some indication as to how flexible you are about the time. 

Send your proposals to:

Anthony Niedwiecki, niedwieckia@nsu.law.nova.edu, or

Cindy Bulan, bulanc@nsu.law.nova.edu, the chair of the conference.

(spl)