Craig Hoffman of Georgetown Wins 2019 Global Legal Skills Award

Dr. Craig Hoffman is a Professor of U.S. Legal Discourse and Director of the Graduate Writing Program at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. At the 14th Global Legal Skills Conference held last month at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Dr. Hoffman was honored with a 2019 Global Legal Skills Award in recognition of his contributions to the development of the field of Legal English.

Professor Hoffman is a linguist and a lawyer who has specialized in transactional writing and negotiations. He teaches courses that introduce students to how U.S. lawyers use language to communicate about the law. He consults with law schools around the world on issues of language and the law and with law firms on the interpretation of statutes and contracts.  

He received his B.A. from William & Mary; his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut; and his J.D. from the University of Texas. Professor Hoffman has also received several fellowships in linguistics, cognitive science, business, and writing. His scholarship includes forensic linguistics, statutory and contract interpretation, discourse analysis, and genre analysis. 

He was co-chair of the Fourth Global Legal Skills Conference when it was held at Georgetown in June 2009.

His focus on law and language has directly inspired many programs around the country. At least one prominent law school based its hiring decisions on trying to find someone with Craig’s dual background and expertise in both law and linguistics.

Dr. Hoffman has accomplished much but he also has plans for the future. He plans now to develop at Georgetown a Masters’ Program in Teaching Legal English.

For his past work and future vision in developing the field of global legal skills education, we congratulate Dr. Craig Hoffman on receiving a 2019 Global Legal Skills Award.

(mew)