Scribes: The American Society of Legal Writers
Encyclopedia
Scribes is an organization dedicated to encouraging legal writers and improving legal writing throughout the entire legal community — in court, in the law office, in the publishing house, and in law school. Founded in 1953, Scribes is the oldest organization of its kind. Scribes has almost 2,700 members, including state and federal judges, practicing lawyers, law-school deans and professors, and legal editors. Its executive office is located in Lansing, Michigan
, and the executive director is Norman E. Plate.
The Scribes Journal distribution now exceeds 10,000 copies. It has published articles by some of the best-known figures in legal writing — Garner
himself, Joseph Kimble, Charles Alan Wright
, Judge Richard Posner
, Lawrence M. Friedman
, Richard Wydick, Reed Dickerson, Dean Darby Dickerson, Irving Younger
, Steven Stark, and Wayne Schiess.
The Journal is widely read and cited. Since 2001, the editor in chief has been Professor Joseph Kimble. And beginning with Volume 9, 2003–2004, printing and distribution have been sponsored by Thomas M. Cooley Law School
.
Volume 13 of the Scribes Journal features the transcripts of interviews with justices of the United States Supreme Court. The interviews were conducted by Bryan Garner.
. Forty years later, the book was reissued under the title Classic Essays on Legal Advocacy, published by The Lawbook Exchange in Clark, New Jersey
. Scribes also has other books in progress.
.
’s annual meetings. In 2007, Scribes participated in the Association of American Law Schools
’ annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
, where it presented a panel discussion on “Jury Instructions in Plain English.” And in 2008, Scribes teamed up with the New York City Bar Association’s Legal History Committee to cosponsor a symposium on Abraham Lincoln
’s legal writing.
Recently, Scribes has also made a point of speaking directly to law students about legal writing. Since 2006, institutional-member law schools have hosted Scribes’ annual board meetings. In return, Scribes conducts legal-writing programs for the school's students.
In 1990, President Roy M. Mersky helped develop a new category of membership for law schools — institutional membership. Since then, 37 law schools have become institutional members. And once a law school becomes an institutional member, professors at those schools automatically become a Scribes member if they meet the other eligibility requirements. In the mid-2000s, institutional membership expanded to include appellate courts. And once an appellate court becomes an institutional member, the judges on that court automatically become members of Scribes.
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, and the executive director is Norman E. Plate.
Goals
As written in its Constitution, Scribes' goals are:- to foster a feeling of fraternity among those who write about the law — and especially among its members;
- to create an interest in writing about the history, philosophy, and language of the law and about those who make, interpret, and enforce it;
- to help and encourage people who write about the law; and
- above all, to promote a clear, succinct, and forceful style in legal writing.
The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing
In 1990, Scribes printed its first volume of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing. The initial circulation was 3,000 copies. And its editor in chief was Bryan Garner, then a young law-school professor at the University of Texas. Today, Garner is recognized as the preeminent authority on legal writing and language. He is a Board member of Scribes.The Scribes Journal distribution now exceeds 10,000 copies. It has published articles by some of the best-known figures in legal writing — Garner
Garner
-Places:In the United States:* Garner, Arkansas* Garner, Iowa* Garner, North Carolina-People:* Alan Garner, English fantasy author* Ashley Garner, Hobart High School: School Board Member, Sandwich Artist* Andy Garner, English footballer* Bryan A...
himself, Joseph Kimble, Charles Alan Wright
Charles Alan Wright
Charles Alan Wright was an American constitutional lawyer widely considered to be the foremost authority in the United States on constitutional law and federal procedure, and was the coauthor of the 54-volume treatise, Federal Practice and Procedure with Arthur Miller and Kenneth W...
, Judge Richard Posner
Richard Posner
Richard Allen Posner is an American jurist, legal theorist, and economist who is currently a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School...
, Lawrence M. Friedman
Lawrence M. Friedman
Lawrence M. Friedman is an American law professor and expert in American legal history. He has been a member of the faculty at Stanford Law School since 1968....
, Richard Wydick, Reed Dickerson, Dean Darby Dickerson, Irving Younger
Irving Younger
Irving Younger was an American lawyer, law professor, judge, and writer. He is well known among lawyers and law students for his exciting talks on effective trial advocacy and legal history....
, Steven Stark, and Wayne Schiess.
The Journal is widely read and cited. Since 2001, the editor in chief has been Professor Joseph Kimble. And beginning with Volume 9, 2003–2004, printing and distribution have been sponsored by Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is an American Bar Association accredited law school in the United States. Located in Michigan, its main campus is in Lansing, and its satellite campuses are in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Cooley plans on opening another satellite campus in Tampa Bay,...
.
Volume 13 of the Scribes Journal features the transcripts of interviews with justices of the United States Supreme Court. The interviews were conducted by Bryan Garner.
The Scrivener
The Scrivener has been Scribes’ quarterly newsletter since 1975. Originally, it was used for membership updates and organizational news. But today, it also includes shorter pieces about legal writing and publishing.Other Publications
In 1960, Scribes issued Advocacy and the King’s English, published by Bobbs-Merrill CompanyBobbs-Merrill Company
The Bobbs-Merrill Company was a book publisher located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bobbs-Merrill was known for publishing such authors as Richard Halliburton, David Markson, Ayn Rand, James Whitcomb Riley, Walter Dean Myers, and Irma S. Rombauer. Bobbs-Merrill also published the early works of...
. Forty years later, the book was reissued under the title Classic Essays on Legal Advocacy, published by The Lawbook Exchange in Clark, New Jersey
Clark, New Jersey
Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,756.-History:...
. Scribes also has other books in progress.
Lifetime-Achievement Award
The Scribes Lifetime-Achievement Award has been presented to five persons who have had a great influence on legal writing or distinguished themselves in their own writing:- Professor Emeritus Richard C. Wydick in 2010, UC Davis School of LawUC Davis School of LawThe University of California Davis School of Law , referred to as UC Davis School of Law and commonly known as King Hall and UC Davis Law, is an American Bar Association approved law school located in Davis, California on the campus of the University of California, Davis. The school received ABA...
, and author of Plain English for Lawyers (Carolina Academic Press); - The Honorable Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader GinsburgRuth Joan Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was appointed by President Bill Clinton and took the oath of office on August 10, 1993. She is the second female justice and the first Jewish female justice.She is generally viewed as belonging to...
in 2009, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court; - The Honorable Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaAntonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
in 2008, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court; - The Honorable Richard S. ArnoldRichard S. ArnoldRichard Sheppard Arnold was a judge of the U.S. District Court and then the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Two presidents, Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton, considered naming Arnold to the United States Supreme Court...
in 2004, Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; and - The Honorable Guido Calabresi in 2002, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and former Dean and Professor at Yale Law SchoolYale Law SchoolYale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
.
Book Award
Since 1961, Scribes has presented its annual Book Award for the best legal work published during the previous year. The Scribes Book-Award Committee reviews 30 to 40 submissions each year, and the award is presented at Scribes’ annual luncheon meeting, where the author usually speaks and signs copies of the book.Law-Review Award
Since 1987, Scribes has presented its annual Law-Review Award for the best student-written article published in a law review or law journal. Each year, the editors of every law review and law journal are encouraged to submit their best student-written note or comment. Then, volunteer legal-writing professors review the articles and submit the finalists to the Scribes selection committee. The committee selects a winner, and the award is presented at the "Scribes Dinner" at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Law ReviewsNational Conference of Law Reviews
The National Conference of Law Reviews is a voluntary organization of law reviews in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The NCLR is devoted to helping its members to better serve both the academic and legal communities. In pursuit of this goal, the NCLR holds an annual four-day conference...
.
Brief-Writing Award
In 1996, Scribes began an annual Brief-Writing Award for the best student-written brief. Each year, any law student who won best brief in a regional or national moot-court competition may submit the brief to Scribes, which then honors the best of the best. As with the Law-Review Award, volunteer legal-writing professors review the articles and decide on the finalists. The Scribes committee selects a winner, who receives the award at Scribes' annual luncheon.National Order of Scribes
In 2007, Scribes created the National Order of Scribes to honor graduating law students who excel in legal writing. Each year, every law school that is an institutional member of Scribes may nominate up to five of its law students to be inducted into the National Order of Scribes. As with other Scribes awards, a list of all honorees, past and present, appear on the Scribes website.Programs
Scribes has on several occasions participated in legal-writing programs at the American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
’s annual meetings. In 2007, Scribes participated in the Association of American Law Schools
Association of American Law Schools
The Association of American Law Schools is a non-profit organization of 170 law schools in the United States. Another 25 schools are "non-member fee paid" schools, which are not members but choose to pay AALS dues. Its purpose is to improve the legal profession through the improvement of legal...
’ annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where it presented a panel discussion on “Jury Instructions in Plain English.” And in 2008, Scribes teamed up with the New York City Bar Association’s Legal History Committee to cosponsor a symposium on Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
’s legal writing.
Recently, Scribes has also made a point of speaking directly to law students about legal writing. Since 2006, institutional-member law schools have hosted Scribes’ annual board meetings. In return, Scribes conducts legal-writing programs for the school's students.
Speakers at the Annual Meetings
Scribes’ annual luncheon meeting is held in conjunction with the ABA's annual meeting. Over the years, some of the most influential figures in legal writing have presented talks at the luncheon meeting.Membership
Scribes had 41 members at its first meeting in the early 1950s. But today, membership has grown to almost 2,700 members — including state and federal judges, practicing lawyers, law-school deans and professors, and legal editors. Any member of the legal profession is eligible to join.In 1990, President Roy M. Mersky helped develop a new category of membership for law schools — institutional membership. Since then, 37 law schools have become institutional members. And once a law school becomes an institutional member, professors at those schools automatically become a Scribes member if they meet the other eligibility requirements. In the mid-2000s, institutional membership expanded to include appellate courts. And once an appellate court becomes an institutional member, the judges on that court automatically become members of Scribes.