Thomas F. Blackwell Memorial Award
For Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Legal Writing
The award is named after Appalachian School of Law Professor Thomas F. Blackwell who was killed by a disturbed law student in January 2002. Professor Blackwell taught legal writing and was active in the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD), serving as its webmaster, and in the Legal Writing Institute (LWI).
The award includes both money and a tangible symbol—a desk lamp, representing both the light Professor Blackwell shed on his students and colleagues and his penchant for lightbulb jokes.
Award Criteria
Honoring the life of Thomas F. Blackwell for his personal and professional qualities as a Legal Writing educator, the Legal Writing Institute and the Association of Legal Writing Directors give this award to recognize a person who has made an outstanding contribution to improve the field of Legal Writing by demonstrating:
- The ability to nurture and motivate students to excellence.
- Willingness to help other Legal Writing educators improve their teaching skills or their Legal Writing Programs.
- The ability to create and integrate new ideas for teaching and motivating Legal Writing educators and students.
Process
- The Award shall be presented at the annual January meeting of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS).
- Before July 31st of the year preceding the January presentation, the Award Committee shall have solicited and selected a nominee for the Award from the members of the Legal Writing Institute (LWI) and the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD). The Committee shall request that nominations for the Award be sent privately to the Award Committee Chair.
- The Award Committee, consisting of seven experienced legal writing professionals, shall be jointly appointed by the LWI and ALWD governing boards.
- The Award Committee may consider a variety of factors related to the Criteria to select an Award recipient. These factors may include, among others, efforts to improve the status and security of Legal Writing educators; scholarship that is published or is presented at professional meetings; and efforts made to support and encourage other Legal Writing educators.
- By July 31st of the year preceding the January meeting, the Award Committee will select a person to receive the Award, if any, and recommend the person to LWI and ALWD governing boards for their approval. The governing boards will vote to accept or reject the nomination and instruct the Committee as to the Award’s presentation. No person serving as a member of the governing boards or as a member of the Award Committee may be a recipient of the Award.
- The Award shall be in the amount of $1,000.00.