For thirty-five years, the Journal of the Legal Writing Institute (JLWI) has profoundly shaped both the field of legal writing and those of us who work within it. Its mission of providing a forum for scholarly articles on the theory, substance, and pedagogy of legal writing has elevated scholarship that might otherwise have struggled to find a home and advanced a broader understanding of legal writing and its teaching. In publishing articles about theory and practice, empirical research and pedagogy, and essays and commentary, JLWI has not only pushed the discipline forward, but has also provided a platform for marginalized voices in legal education.
JLWI’s impact on my career began even before I entered the legal academy. Teaching had always been my passion, and I knew I would one day pursue it as a career, even as my professional path first led me into a position as a law clerk. During those years, I often found myself reviewing faculty CVs, curious about the journeys of professors I admired. A striking pattern emerged when I reviewed legal writing faculty CVs—so many of them were engaged with the Legal Writing Institute (LWI), and many had served on the JLWI Board or as editors. Their example was both inspiring and instructive. I joined LWI, began reading JLWI’s scholarship, and, when the opportunity arose, leapt at the chance to serve as an editor.
From the beginning, JLWI grounded me in the literature, theories, and debates that animate our field, even before I stood at the front of a classroom. Editorial work sharpened my analytical skills, broadened my perspective, and gave me a critical lens for thinking about legal writing. It shaped the kind of teacher I aspired to be, informed how I hoped to design my classroom, and revealed the recurring challenges and creative solutions that continue to define legal education. It also got me thinking about my scholarship and how my voice could make an impact. My transition from clerking to academia was immensely smoother because of the support, mentorship, and intellectual community I found through LWI and JLWI.
Now, nearly eight years later, I am honored to be stepping into the role of Editor in Chief. I feel a deep responsibility to continue JLWI’s mission of providing a rigorous forum for legal writing scholarship while honoring the legacy of those who came before me. Because JLWI gave me an early home and voice in the field, I want to ensure it continues to amplify new and diverse voices, encourage empirical research and critical commentary, and provide a place where pedagogy, rhetoric, and theory continue to intersect in ways that strengthen both teaching and practice. Looking ahead, I am excited to see how JLWI can help guide the next chapter of legal writing—one that is as innovative, inclusive, and transformative as the last thirty-five years have been.
As we look toward the future, JLWI will remain at the center of the conversations that matter most to our discipline. Already, our community is grappling with profound questions about the role of generative AI in legal education and practice, the impact of the NextGen bar exam on how we teach, and the evolving pedagogical approaches that best prepare our students for lawyering in a changing profession. Some of these ideas are only beginning to take shape; others are still germinating and may not blossom into full essays or articles for another year or more. But JLWI will be ready—as it has always been—to capture, nurture, and advance these conversations.
As we celebrate JLWI’s thirtieth volume and the thirty-fifth anniversary of its founding, I am mindful of the legacy we inherit and the responsibility we carry. The past thirty-five years have given us a remarkable foundation: one built by dedicated editors, committed scholars, and a community that believed in the importance of legal writing long before the broader academy did. I cannot wait to see what the next thirty-five years—and beyond—will bring, and I am humbled to help steward JLWI into its next chapter.