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:

• an ability to nurture and motivate students to excellence;
• a willingness to help other Legal Writing educators improve their teaching skills or their Legal Writing Programs; and

• an ability to create and integrate new ideas for teaching and motivating Legal Writing educators and students.

Nomination Information:

1. A Call for Nominations is made in the late spring/early summer and the winner is announced in the early fall.
2. The award is usually presented at the AALS annual meeting in January.
3. Nomination materials should support as fully as possible the listed criteria as well as any other information the nominating person believes would help the Committee in its selection process.
4. Nominations are welcome for previously nominated candidates; the nomination and its supporting materials should be re-submitted as the Committee does not retain previously submitted materials.