The 2008 Burton Award Winners

The winners of the 2008 Burton Awards have been announced. Click on a link below to view the winners.

The Burton Awards History

Established Recognition and Renown in the Legal Community

In 2008 we again honor 30 partners from the top 1,000 largest law firms, and 15 law school students from all the law schools across the nation with writing awards. But our mission, to honor the best examples in the legal profession is far from being won.

The credit for the change in legal writing principally belongs to the trained professors and lecturers on law who teach the discipline. Legal writing programs should be expanded and broadly funded. Full professorships must be established at law schools so that the finest academics will be given the tenure they truly deserve. The progress that has been gained, must never be lost by a lack of attention and commitment.

It is also a distinct honor that Duane Wall, Managing Partner of White & Case, agreed to serve as our Dinner Chair in 2006. As one of the most prominent members of the legal profession, Duane Wall's involvement is greatly appreciated.

Additionally, I remain grateful to LexisNexis, for their generous support of the program and designing and publishing this program and the invitations to this event. Through the hard work of many of its true professionals, including chiefly Krista Albaugh and Elizabeth Kneckt, we have expanded the program to even greater prominence.

I am also appreciative for the close affiliation our program enjoys with the Association of Legal Administrators. This year we will again offer five awards with the ALA including Best Legal Compendium, Best Newsletter, Best Firm Profile, Best Publication and Best Advertisement. We also appreciate the endorsement we received from the Association of Legal Writing Directors. A special thank you to Bob Abramson, the ALA's Director of Marketing, for helping to promote our 2006 program. We are also extremely thankful to Roger Cohen, Worldwide Director, Media Relations and Communications for White & Case for selecting the Best Firm Profiles in the nation.

Last year our program was proud to present the “Distinguished Judicial Writing Award” to Judge Alex Kozinski of the Ninth US Circuit Court of appeals. The selection was, once again, masterful and I were extremely grateful to Grace Tonner, Professor at the University of Michigan Law School, for her leadership in the selection process. Professor Toner relied on the input of Dean Kent Syverud of Vanderbilt Law School; Nancy King, Lee S. and Charles A. Speir, Professors of Law at Vanderbilt Law School; Erwin Chemerinsky, Alston & Bird Professor of Law at Duke Law School; and Edward H. Cooper, Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School.

We also presented the "Reform in Law" Award to Chief Justice Ron George, California Supreme Court, Justice Carol Corrigan, California Supreme Court, and Justice James D. Ward, California Court of Appeal, retired for their successful efforts in re-writing the California civil jury instructions.

Our Board involves some of America’s foremost judges and leading members of the profession. Judges Alex Kozinski, Judge Richard A. Posner and Justice Carole Corrigan now serve as honorary members. Moreover, our Academic Board involves some of the finest professors from the most renowned law schools in the country. I thank Virginia Wise of Harvard, one of the best known names in legal writing and research for graciously serving as our chair.

The 2006 program also included a prestigious national award given for “Outstanding Contributions to Legal Writing Education.” The standing “Committee on Contributors to Legal Writing,” continues to be led by one of the finest educators, Anne Kringel of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The Committee's selection of Ralph Brill as the 2006 recipient was a perfect choice. Professor Brill has been a member of the Chicago-Kent College of Law faculty since 1961. He has served as associate dean and acting dean. We thank Anne and Professor Craig T. Smith, of Vanderbilt University School of Law who recommended Professor Brill, for their excellent selection.

In addition, we also presented our premier “Record of Distinction” awards to honor Arnold & Porter, LLP, Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Thompson Hine and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. These law firms had award winners for three or more years and truly deserve to be honored for the achievement. The “Record of Distinction” awards were presented to law schools will also be given to University of Michigan Law School, Georgetown University Law School, and William & Mary School of Law.

Previous Events

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