Legal Definitions - Legal Writing Institute

The Legal Writing Institute (LWI) is a professional, nonprofit organization established in 1984. Its primary mission is to enhance the quality of legal writing education by fostering the exchange of ideas and information among those who teach legal writing. Composed mainly of legal writing professors at American law schools, the LWI supports its members through research, scholarship, conferences, and publications, all aimed at improving how law students learn to write effectively.

• Example 1: Professional Development for Educators
  A newly appointed legal writing professor at a state university law school feels overwhelmed by the task of designing an engaging first-year curriculum. They decide to attend the LWI's biennial conference. At the conference, they participate in workshops on innovative teaching techniques, network with experienced professors, and learn about new pedagogical approaches to teaching legal research and writing. This directly illustrates how the LWI facilitates the exchange of information and ideas, helping educators improve their teaching methods.

• Example 2: Advancing Scholarship in Legal Education
  A legal writing professor is conducting research on the effectiveness of using artificial intelligence tools to provide feedback on student writing. To inform their study, they consult articles published in the LWI's academic journal, Legal Writing, which features scholarly work on various aspects of legal writing pedagogy. This demonstrates the LWI's role in promoting research and scholarship that contributes to the body of knowledge in legal writing education.

• Example 3: Community and Resource Sharing
  The director of a law school's legal writing program is considering a major overhaul of their advanced legal writing courses. Before making significant changes, they post a detailed inquiry on the LWI's active listserv, asking for advice and examples from other legal writing program directors who have implemented similar reforms. Within hours, they receive numerous responses, offering valuable insights and sharing successful strategies from different institutions. This exemplifies how the LWI serves as a vital community and resource hub, enabling members to collaborate and improve their programs through shared experiences.