Legal Writing Institute

The Legal Writing Institute is, "a non-profit organization dedicated to improving legal writing by providing a forum for discussion and scholarship about legal writing, analysis, and research." [ [http://www.lwionline.org/ Legal Writing Institute :: LWI Online ] ] The Institute was established as an offshoot of the first conference concerning Legal Writing in law schools held at the University of Puget Sound in 1984. The conference was partially funded by monies left over from a National Endowment for the Humanities grant procured by Christopher Rideout who was an English Professor at the University of Puget Sound. Laurel Currie Oates, who was a Professor of Legal Writing at the University of Puget Sound, helped organize this initial conference that 108 writing professionals attended. The concept of the Institute reached fruition in 1985 when the American Association of Law Schools Conference was held in Chicago and brought together numerous leaders in the Legal Writing field. The Legal Writing Institute was incorporated in 1986. [ Mary S. Lawrence, The Legal Writing Institute The Beginning: Extraordinary Vision, Extraordinary Accomplishment, 11 J.L.W.I. 213 (2005).] The earliest Boards of Directors were composed of various individuals who maintained a long term commitment to establishing the importance of Legal Writing in legal education and campaigning for the respect and integrity of Legal Writing professionals. These individuals included: Ralph Brill, Susan Brody, Anne Enquist, George Gopen, Laurel Currie Oates, Teresa Godwin Phelps, Chris Rideout, Helene Shapo, and Chris Wren. [http://www.lwionline.org/about/history.asp] The Legal Writing Institute currently boasts over 2100 members.

Mercer University School of Law is home to the Legal Writing Institute, the world's largest organization devoted to improved legal writing. The Institute's 1800 members represent attorneys, judges, and legal writing professors in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.Mercer’s legal writing program has been ranked first or second since US News & World Report began the specialty ranking in 2006. The program was ranked first in 2006 (tied with one other school), second in 2007, and first in 2008.

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