The Association of Legal Writing Directors is pleased to announce the winners of its Distinguished Speakers Grants for 2024.  Law schools use these grants to fund visits by legal writing scholars.  The ALWD Distinguished Speakers offer presentations to students, faculty, alumni, or local practitioners. The presentations draw on the Distinguished Speaker’s research and focus on promoting the practice of professional legal writing. This year’s grant winners are Tulane Law School and Elon University School of Law.  Tulane Law School and its legal writing program will host Dr. Kirsten Davis from Stetson University College of Law.  Elon University School of Law and its legal writing program will host Professor Kathleen Elliott Vinson from Suffolk University Law School.

In her visit to Tulane Law School, Dr. Kirsten Davis will offer two presentations focusing on the theme, “Navigating the New Frontier: Understanding the Challenges, Risks, Limits, and Benefits of Generative A.I. in Legal Writing.”  The first presentation will be a faculty workshop addressing topics like (1) should faculty allow, prohibit, or even encourage the use of A.I. in legal writing and seminar paper assignments; (2) should clinics adopt policies on the use of A.I.; and (3) how should faculty monitor plagiarism in the age of A.I.  Dr. Davis’s second presentation with be with students and will address student questions like (1) how can I expect to use A.I. in practice; (2) will A.I. replace the types of memos I am learning to write in law school; how can I learn to use A.I. efficiently while in law school; and (4) what are the ethical considerations when using A.I.  Dr. Davis will also host a “Coffee and Conversation” in the law school lobby for students and faculty to stop by and ask questions.

At Elon University School of Law, Professor Kathleen Elliott Vinson will present a two-day program titled "Leadership, Law Practice, and Legal Writing." The purpose of her visit is to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and academic success staff to learn about and discuss key aspects of legal writing, law school learning, and professional success from Professor Vinson's expertise and scholarship. Her visit will include a session on legal writing scholarship for faculty, with Professor Vinson providing feedback on works-in-progress; a session with faculty and academic success staff on teaching legal analysis, improving writing skills, and other professional skills; a workshop with fellows and faculty on the intersection of leadership, legal writing, and legal practice; and a faculty/staff lunch presentation on incorporating legal analysis and mindful writing into classes.

Thank you to those who applied, and congratulations to Tulane and Elon!