About the Foundation

Introduction

by William C. Burton, Founder & Chairman

Today, legal writing is undergoing dramatic changes. Obscure and turgid writing is being replaced with clear, plain and concise wording. The progress is certainly the results of the fine efforts of legal writing professors in law schools throughout the country. The change is also occurring because of the work of many leaders in the field who have joined in fomenting the revolution. We hope that through these collective efforts we will continue to extinguish old writing habits which have no place in contemporary law.

Our efforts involve some of the finest professors from the most renowned law schools in the country. We also are fortunate that other distinguished members of the legal profession are also involved including judges, partners, associates and even law school students. We hope to continue to be a central and pivotal voice against convoluted and stilted writing. In this, the seventh year of the program, I can now report that legalese is finally a fugitive on the run.

The success our program enjoys is largely due to the alliance forged with the Law Library of Congress and the unyielding support of key sponsors including LexisNexis, prime sponsor. Our progress is also due to dedicated involvement of the members of our Board of Directors and Academic Board. Because our Board is so dynamic we have now expanded to offer new awards for Reform, for Outstanding Contributions to Legal Writing Education, and even joined forces with the Association of Legal Administrators to offer a national awards for the “Best Law Firm Publications.”

This past year we expanded the program to honor 30 partners and counsel from the nation’s 600 largest firms which are involved. At the same time, we continued to select the top 15 law school student writers from all the law schools in the nation. In addition to the members and students, we also honored law firms and law schools who had winners for three or more years.

2007 was a dynamic and rewarding year filled with great growth and progress. I am grateful to Dr. Rubens Medina, the Law Librarian of Congress, for his ingenuity, foresight and creativity in helping to further the relationship with the Law Library and promoting the growth of the program.

Our goal began eight years ago with one objective to eliminate stilted, archaic and convoluted writing and replacing it with plain, clear, and effective legal expression. We are now achieving these results. But as we persevere in our primary purpose, we are also turning our attention to rewarding other great accomplishments in the legal profession. It is our belief that excellence in the profession of law should be recognized and rewarded. I hope that this website communicates the excitement that now exists for the awards program.