Legal Writing Prof Blog

ALWD Conference

The Association of Legal Writing Directors will hold its 2023 Biennial Conference at the University of California-Irvine on July 12-14, 2023. Click here for more information about the ALWD Conference.

Hat tip to Kim Peterson.

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ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar

The Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar met on May 12, 2023 to consider recommendations, reports, and other issues.

You can find a summary of actions taken at the meeting (with links to proposed revisions and recommendations) by clicking here.

 

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Illinois Will Require Libraries to Reject Book Bans

The Illinois House and Senate have sent HB 2789  to Governor J.B. Pritzker to sign -- landmark legislation that will require Illinois libraries and library systems to adopt express policies against book bans. See Marcus GilmAs Book Bans Increase Nationwide, Illinois is Breaking New Ground to Stop Them. Juice [Crain's Chicago Business Political News], May 3, 2023er, .

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LWI 2024 in Indianapolis

The Legal Writing Institute confirmed that next year's biennial LWI conference will be July 17-20, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Indiana University Robert F. McKinney School of Law.

And here's the team that will make the magic happen:

Budget Chair Carolyn Williams (UND)

Sponsorship Chair Heidi Brown (Brooklyn)

Registration Chair Tessa Dysart (Arizona)

Site Co-Chairs: Allison Martin (IU-McKinney) & Joel Schumm (IU-McKinney)

Program Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Berenguer (Stetson) & Eun Hee Han (Georgetown)

Bench & Bar Co-Chairs: Sylvia Lett (Arizona) & Jane Grisé (Kentucky)

Site Sub-Committee: Heather Gram (Wake Forest), Wendy-Adele Humphrey (Texas Tech), Joy Kanwar (Brooklyn), Charles Calleros (ASU), Katrina Robinson (Cornell), Brad Desnoyer (IU-McKinney), Jim Dmitri (IU-McKinney), Cynthia Adams (IU-McKinney), Amber Morgan Walker (IU-McKinney), & Kristina Swanson (IU-McKinney)

Program Sub-Committee: Rosa Kim (Suffolk), Tiffany Jeffers (Georgetown), Drew Simshaw (Gonzaga), Rebecca Rich (Duke), Sarah Ware (UVA), Bryan Schwartz (Arizona), Sha-Shana Crichton (Howard), Sarah Morath (WFU), & Suzanna Geiser (Campbell)

Bench & Bar Sub-Committee: Michael Blasie (Seattle), Kate Brem (UHLC), Kathryn Campbell (Southwestern), Tom Cobb (Mitchell-Hamline), Laura D’Amato (BU), Joy Herr-Cardillo (Arizona), Joshua Jones (Cal Western), Pete Nemerovski (UNC), Eunice Peters (Washburn), Katrina Robinson (Cornell), Nancy Soonpaa (Texas Tech), Jerrod Williams (Loyola-Chicago), & Joe Fore (UVA)

Hat tip to Prof. Abby Perdue (Wake Forest), LWI President-Elect.

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Law Day Webinar with the ABA and the Law Library of Congress

In the United States, May 1 is celebrated as Law Day.

The Law Library of Congress and the American Bar Association, via webinar, for this year’s Law Day celebration on April 27th at 3 p.m. EDT. The topic of this panel discussion will be, “Civility and Collaboration: U.S. and International Perspectives.” It will feature a conversation about how selected jurisdictions have worked to increase bipartisanship, civic knowledge, and civic engagement.

This panel discussion will be moderated by Jacksonville University College of Law Dean Nicholas Allard. He will be joined by American Bar Association President Deborah Enix-Ross, Law Library of Congress Foreign Law Specialist Kayahan Cantekin, and Law Library of Congress Senior Foreign Law Specialist Ruth Levush. 

Please register here.

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Law Library of Congress Reports Now Available Through HeinOnline

Developed in collaboration with the Law Library of Congress, HeinOnline has introduced a new database of Law Library of Congress Reports. This is an exclusive database with more than 3,500 reports on foreign, comparative, and international law. These reports will assist many scholars and law students. Have a look at this gold mine of a collection!

 

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Sirico Scholars' Workshop in Utah

There is still time to apply for the Sirico Scholars' Workshop, which will be held July 18-21, 2023, at the Westgate Park City Resort & Spa in beautiful Park City, Utah. The registration fee for each participant is $450, which will include lodging and some meals. Each participant must cover their transportation cost.

If you have a current research project that would benefit from a supportive group review and critique, please consider participating in this workshop. Past participants have a strong record of completing and placing their articles for publication.

To apply for a spot in this outstanding program, fill out the application form here. The deadline to apply is April 30. The organizers will notify participants shortly after that deadline. While all scholars, established and emerging, are encouraged to apply, if they have more applications than spaces available, preference will be given to emerging scholars. 

Hat tip to Sara Morath at Wake Forest University.

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Reminder: Nominations Open for the AWLD Rombauer Award

The Association of Legal Writing Directors (“ALWD”) is now accepting nominations for the Marjorie Rombauer Award. 

The Rombauer Award salutes a person who has contributed significantly to the field of legal writing: 

1. by education about the importance of legal writing; 
2. by published scholarship that advances the teaching of legal writing and the understanding of its underlying principles; 
3. by contributions to national legal writing organizations; 
4. by contributions to individual legal writing programs; and 
5. by efforts to improve the status of legal writing faculty. 

Past award recipients include Mary Beth Beazley (2017), Laurel Currie Oates (2009), and Mary S. Lawrence (2000). If you would like to nominate someone for the Rombauer Award, please send your nomination to rcroskery [at] law.uci.edu by 5 p.m. PST on April 14, 2023. Please provide the following information in your nomination: 

1. Your name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information.  
2. The name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information for the nominee. 
3. A short statement (no more than 500 words) as to why you think the nominee meets the criteria for the Rombauer Award. 

Hat tip to Professor Rachel Croskery-Roberts, President-Elect of ALWD and Associate Dean for Lawyering Skills at the University of California, Irvine School of Law

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Nominations Open for the AWLD Rombauer Award

The Association of Legal Writing Directors (“ALWD”) is now accepting nominations for the Marjorie Rombauer Award. 

The Rombauer Award salutes a person who has contributed significantly to the field of legal writing: 

1. by education about the importance of legal writing; 
2. by published scholarship that advances the teaching of legal writing and the understanding of its underlying principles; 
3. by contributions to national legal writing organizations; 
4. by contributions to individual legal writing programs; and 
5. by efforts to improve the status of legal writing faculty. 

Past award recipients include Mary Beth Beazley (2017), Laurel Currie Oates (2009), and Mary S. Lawrence (2000). If you would like to nominate someone for the Rombauer Award, please send your nomination to rcroskery [at] law.uci.edu by 5 p.m. PST on April 14, 2023. Please provide the following information in your nomination: 

1. Your name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information.  
2. The name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information for the nominee. 
3. A short statement (no more than 500 words) as to why you think the nominee meets the criteria for the Rombauer Award. 

Hat tip to Professor Rachel Croskery-Roberts, President-Elect of ALWD and Associate Dean for Lawyering Skills at the University of California, Irvine School of Law

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Mizzou is Hiring

The University of Missouri School of Law is seeking a Visiting Associate Professor to teach in the 1L legal research and writing program (LRW) for the 2023-2024 academic year that begins in August 2023 and ends in May 2024. The 1L LRW program is a six-credit, two-semester, graded course sequence (three credits each semester), including Legal Research & Writing in the fall and Advocacy & Research in the spring. They seek a candidate who is passionate and reflective about teaching, is dedicated to student learning, and will work collaboratively with other LRW faculty.

The University of Missouri School of Law is a full-time J.D. and LL.M.-granting institution located in Columbia, Missouri. For more information, please see http://law.missouri.edu/. The School of Law strives to foster a diverse faculty committed to effective teaching and to attract a student body with diverse experiences and views. Columbia, Missouri is regularly ranked as one of the most livable cities in the United States.

Position Details: The individual hired will teach two sections of Legal Research & Writing and two sections of Advocacy & Research for the 2023-2024 academic year (two courses per semester).  The individual will be expected to participate in 1L orientation (during August 2023), attend weekly team meetings, be available to students, give detailed feedback, and submit grades. There is a strong possibility that they will post a permanent position to start in the 2024-2025 academic year. The individual will be eligible to apply for the permanent position.

Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school.

Candidates will also be evaluated on having a strong academic record, excellent legal research and writing skills, and experience in the practice of law. The ideal candidate will also have experience teaching legal research and writing. Appellate practice or other law practice in Missouri is valued.

Application Procedure: Review of resumes will begin immediately. To apply, please submit a cover letter, a resume, and three references via the University’s online job portal, available at https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings. The job ID number is 46314. Please direct any questions to Ben Trachtenberg, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or Anne Alexander, Director of Legal Research & Writing. If you have prior teaching experience, please provide a recent set of course evaluations. Materials will be reviewed on an ongoing basis with a start date in August 2023.

Hat tip to Katherine Butler Brem, Chair of the AALS Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research.

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Oklahoma is Looking for a Law Library Director

The College of Law at the University of Oklahoma seeks applicants for the Director of the Donald E. Pray Law Library.  The Director of the Law Library is a 12-month, Tenure Track or Tenured faculty position and is appointed on a continuing appointment with rank (Associate Professor or full Professor) commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary and conditions will also be commensurate with experience. 

The Director of the Law Library reports directly to the Dean of the College of Law and has overall responsibility for all aspects of library operations, including budgeting; hiring and supervision of library faculty and staff; strategic planning with respect to the future growth and development of the Law Library; and initiating and monitoring library programs and services. The Director ensures that the Law Library's collection and resources are sufficient to meet the primary goal of supporting the teaching and research needs of the College of Law's faculty, staff, and students, and ensures that the Law Library is in compliance with accreditation standards and membership requirements of ABA and AALS. As Director and as a member of the faculty, the Director will actively participate in the intellectual life of the College, engaging in scholarly activities and teaching if so desired and as time permits.

Complete details and how to apply can be found by clicking here.

Hat tip to Prof. Megan Shaner, Chair, Library Director Search Committee for the University of Oklahoma College of Law

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Prospective Law Teachers' Workshop and the Aspiring Law Teachers' Workshop

The Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS), a regional association of law schools, hosts a Prospective Law Teachers Workshop (PLTW), which provides intensive opportunities for VAPs, fellows, and practitioners to network and participate in mock interviews and mock job talks—prior to the actual teaching market. The Workshop also includes a luncheon (separate ticket purchase required) and 1-on-1 sessions for candidates to receive faculty feedback on their CVs and FAR forms. This year’s Prospective Law Teachers Workshop will be held at The Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida. The Workshop will begin on Sunday, July 23, 2023, and end on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. 

If you are interested in participating specifically in the Prospective Law Teachers' Workshop, please send your CV, and a brief statement explaining your interest, to Professors Shakira D. Pleasant, [email protected], and Carla L. Reyes, [email protected]  Please also confirm that you are planning on entering the teaching market in August 2023. Applications are due by March 27, 2023, with decisions made no later than April 1. Past PLTW participants have secured tenure-track appointments at an impressive array of law schools.

Separate and apart from the PLTW, SEALS also offers a workshop that is broader programming for anyone considering academia—even if one is earlier in the process. The Aspiring Law Teachers' Workshop (ALTW) includes sessions on designing your teaching package, navigating the market as a nontraditional candidate, mapping academic opportunities, what’s in a job talk, crafting scholarship goals, the art of self-promotion, as well as a luncheon (separate ticket purchase required). You can peruse the programming, which will take place between Sunday, July 23, through Wednesday, July 26, by searching “aspiring law teachers workshop” at this link.

The goal of these two workshops is to provide robust opportunities for those who hope to one day enter legal academia.

Frequently Asked Questions:

They both sound great. What exactly is the difference?

The Prospective Workshop is designed for those who are going on the market this fall (and will be submitting their FAR form), in 2023, and desiring a chance to moot job talks and interviews in advance of that time. The Aspiring Workshop is designed for anyone considering academia, including those who may not yet be ready to moot a job talk in the summer. Participation in the Prospective Workshop is by acceptance-only while the Aspiring Workshop is open to everyone. 

Is this the new faculty recruitment initiative that I heard SEALS has put together?

No, this is not the new hiring initiative that SEALS is conducting. That process is entirely separate. Information about SEALS’ new faculty recruitment initiative can be found by clicking here. 

Hat tip to Prof. Shakira D. Pleasant, Director of the Legal Writing Resource Center at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

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LMU in Knoxville is Hiring

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, Tennessee is seeking to hire an entry-level faculty member to focus on legal writing and other essential practice skills. The successful candidate will play a key role on a small, dedicated team, with an emphasis on guiding students as they develop the skills needed to succeed in practice. The position will offer opportunities to design and teach required courses in legal writing as well as multiple options for electives, including upper-level seminars and experiential-learning courses. They're also hiring two entry-level positions in their academic and bar success program.

Hat tip to Jason Smith.

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LMU in Knoxville is Hiring

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, Tennessee is seeking to hire an entry-level faculty member to focus on legal writing and other essential practice skills. The successful candidate will play a key role on a small, dedicated team, with an emphasis on guiding students as they develop the skills needed to succeed in practice. The position will offer opportunities to design and teach required courses in legal writing as well as multiple options for electives, including upper-level seminars and experiential-learning courses. They're also hiring two entry-level positions in their academic and bar success program.

Hat tip to Jason Smith.

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University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco is looking for at least one Visiting Professor for 2023-2024. USF Law welcomes outstanding candidates in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and Criminal Law. Secondary expertise in Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Wills and Trusts, and / or Race and the Law is an advantage. The Visitor(s) may also have the opportunity to teach an elective/seminar, if the schedule permits, as part of a commitment to two courses each semester.

Hat tip to Edith Ho.

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Scribes' National Conference for Law Review Editors

Scribes--The American Society of Legal Writers--will host a national conference to train law students who have been selected to serve as law review or journal editors. The online conference will take place on March 26, 2023.

This conference will help guide new law review and journal editors as they plan their upcoming year. The conference will begin with a plenary session titled "Top Tips from Top Authors." Confirmed panelists include Professors Richard Delgado (Seattle), Martha Minow (Harvard), Devon Carbado (UCLA), and Nancy Levit (UMKC), all of whom are first-rate legal scholars with expertise in legal scholarship. The plenary will be followed by three concurrent sessions featuring law professors, outgoing and recent editors, and other experts.

The registration fee includes 12 months of access to the complete set of 2022-2023 Scribes Second Sunday webinar series recordings, which includes topics like effective board transitions, understanding plagiarism, working with law librarians, understanding your journal's history and legacy, the business of law reviews, and more.

Click here to visit the registration page for the Scribes' National Conference for Law Review Editors.  

Hat tip to Darby Dickerson.

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Favorite Ready Reference Materials at the Law Library of Congress

There's a guest post we think you'll like at In Custodia Legis, the blog of the Law Library of Congress. Olivia Kane-Cruz writes about some favorite "Ready Reference Materials" at the LLOC, the world's largest law library. Have a look by clicking here.

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Kim Ricardo Named Interim Associate Dean at UIC

Professor Kim Ricardo of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law has been promoted to Interim Associate Dean of Experiential Education at UIC Law. Kim will continue to lead the UIC Lawyering Skills Program as its Director.

Kim is a Past President of the Legal Writing Institute.

Hat tip to Teri McMurtry-Chubb

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AALS Section on Global Engagement Outstanding Achievement Award Winner Announced

The Association of American Law Schools' Section on Global Engagement has announced that the 2023 Winner of its Outstanding Achievement Award is Professor David Austin of the California Western School of Law.

The Award will be presented to Professor Austin next month during the AALS Annual Meeting in San Diego.

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AALS Comparative Law Section Announces Winner of 2023 Tushnet Prize

The Association of American Law Schools' Section on Comparative Law has announced that the winner of the 2023 Tushnet Prize is Professor Anna Conley of the University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law. She was recognized for her article, "Comparing Essential Components of Transnational Jurisdiction: A Proposed Comparative Methodology," which was published in the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. Professor Conley's article is an updated and condensed version of her dissertation for her Doctor of Laws in Comparative Law from the McGill University Faculty of Law.

Professor Conley is an Assistant Professor at the University of Montana, where her areas of expertise include civil litigation, comparative law, international law, and human rights. She has a J.D. from the George Washington Law School, and an LL.M. and Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.) from the McGill University Faculty of Law. She has litigated many large-scale complex cases, participated in several rule of law initiatives, and published extensively in international and comparative law. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Montana Department of Political Science teaching Constitutional Law, International Law and Comparative Law from 2017 to 2021. She also was an adjunct professor at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law teaching Global Perspectives on Law and Public International Law from 2007 to 2016.

The Tushnet Prize recognizes scholarly excellence in any subject of comparative law by an untenured scholar at an AALS Member School. The Prize is given to the author or authors of a scholarly article judged to have made an important contribution in the field of comparative law. For the 2023 award, this article must have been published in an academic journal between July 2021 and November 2022.

The Prize was awarded for the first time at the 2020 AALS Annual Meeting. All untenured scholars—including but not limited to tenure-track professors, visiting assistant professors, lecturers, academic fellows, doctoral candidates—are eligible.

The Tushnet Prize is named for Mark Tushnet, a former president of the Association of American Law Schools and the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A former law clerk to Justice Thurgood Marshall, Professor Tushnet is an authoritative voice in constitutional law and theory. His scholarship spans all areas of public law, including comparative constitutional law, a field in which he has co-authored a leading casebook. A respected teacher, a devoted mentor, and an influential scholar, he retired from the Harvard faculty in June 2020.

Professor Conley joins this list of previous winners of the Tushnet Prize:

• Mark Jia (Harvard Law School) (2022)
• Pamela Bookman (Fordham University School of Law) (2021)
• Jorge Farinacci (Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Law) (2020)

The AALS Comparative Law Section Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. in the Marriott Grand Ballroom 12, Lobby Level, North Tower, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Hotel.

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