Ethics and Professionalism in Legal Writing

For those who are working on writing for clients this summer, a bit on professionalism in legal writing is appropriate. Spelunking around the internet, searching for some writing news, I found a webinar (video lecture) from Stetson Law School titled Ethics and Professionalism in Legal Writing.

Also, I've put together something on this subject, with a focus on adverse authority. A precursor to the publication is at my [ancient] website, where I've linked some additional articles on adverse authority. The website article is Disclosing and Confronting Adverse Authority

***

Image: Old Main, facing northeast; University of Arkansas campus, May 2009.

Sturm College of Law (Denver) - good writing competition site

In this slow news period, let's take a look at the Sturm College of Law's (Denver) writing competition site.

The design features are great at this site. The front page is subdivided along the lines of a newspaper front page. This design allows for some thoughtful commentary on what might prompt readers to see their ability to enter a writing competition, highlights of competitions with imminent deadlines, and public information about DU students who have won prior competitions.

Sturm College of Law: Writing Competitions

**

Image: wikipedia, Sturm College of Law

How about a Book Review?

Summer time allows for a little free reading for those who operate on the academic calendar. A good place for you to practice writing is by writing a book review for an on-line audience. Some of the reviews can become fairly elaborate, and it appears there's a place for instant publication for just about anyone.

Like anything else, practicing an art hones the skill at doing it.


Here's a sample book review from a longer review of Justice Scalia's book, Making Your Case:

Whether or not you agree with Justice Scalia's opinions from the Supreme Court, this book as a primer on briefs and oral argument is excellent. I wish that I had this book for moot court. The brief writing section was far better than any of the books I had to help me. The oral presentation section identified solutions to problems that frustrated me. If you are not a lawyer you will likely find the oral argument section interesting and helpful, but find the minutia of the brief writing section boring. As a lawyer, I will reread this book from time to time. Justice Scalia recognizes there are other viewpoints; he discusses them but then explains why his view is better.

More here.

Readers who know of independent book store[s] that puts up reviews like this on their web sites, I'm interested in hearing from you! Write me at ksampson@uark.edu

***

Image: sky over Fayetteville, Arkansas; May 22, 2009 (high school annex in the foreground, facing southeast).

Why Write?

Hat tip to the Legal Writing Institute Newsletter for SSRN uploads (Emily Zimmerman and Terry Jean Seligamann, editors) for this article available on the SSRN network:

Erwin Chemerinsky, Why Write?, 107 Mich. L. Rev. (2009)

***
Image: file copy of "after the pickle, stealing home" 05/20/09

University of Idaho Competitions Site - Many June Deadlines

The writing competition site at the University of Idaho is streamlined and helpful, with both a topic and a date orientation. June is a particularly busy month, with many competition deadlines.

Take a look at the June list at Idaho's site.


**

Image: Idaho state capitol in Boise, from Wikipedia.

Copyright release: License: This image is public domain, because I took the picture and I've made it public domain. I don't care at all what you use this picture for. If you do use it, please consider linking back to this site.

PDPhoto.org is a repository for free public domain photos.

~ksampson@uark.edu 051809