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Cooley Law professors present at Legal Writing Institute’s 21st Biennial Conference

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Professor Emeritus Joseph Kimble receives 2024 Golden Pen Award

Mark Cooney

Cooley Law School Professor Mark Cooney presents, “There’s a Hole in the Safety Net: How Legalese Jeopardizes Enforceability,” during the Legal Writing Institute 21st Biennial Conference at Indiana University School of Law.

Five Cooley Law School professors participated in the Legal Writing Institute Biennial Conference at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis July 17-20.

The 21st Biennial Conference theme, “The Best Is Yet to Come,” focused on exploring how legal writing professors and their students can grow in the future.

Cooley professors Brad Charles, Mark Cooney, Barbara Anna Kalinowski, and Matt Marin participated in several sessions throughout the four-day conference, while Professor Emeritus Joseph Kimble was recognized by the Legal Writing Institute Board of Directors as the 2024 recipient of the Golden Pen Award.

“Joseph Kimble’s commitment to promoting plain language in legal writing has been extraordinary, with a global impact that has helped countless people understand their rights and duties,” stated the LWI Board. “Although the Golden Pen Award is usually given to someone who is not a member of the LWI community, Joe’s remarkable achievements and unique contributions transcend legal writing academics, warranting this special recognition.”

Kimble taught legal writing at Cooley for 30 years. He has been the editor of the Plain Language column in the Michigan Bar Journal for 36 years, and published the second edition of his book “Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please: The Case for Plain Language in Business, Government, and Law.” He also served as drafting consultant on the projects to rewrite the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Bankruptcy Procedure, as well as the Michigan Rules of Evidence.

Joseph Kimble

Joseph Kimble

“Joe’s advocacy for the fair treatment of legal-writing professors has set a precedent by convincing his school to put writing faculty on tenure track, leading to broader recognition and equality for legal-writing professionals,” the LWI Board stated. “This groundbreaking work has helped other legal-writing professors fight for their rights. Overall, Joe’s relentless dedication and significant contributions to plain language and legal-writing education make him an exemplary recipient of the Golden Pen Award.”

Additionally, Charles, a professor at Cooley’s Lansing campus, teaches Research & Writing, Advanced Writing, and Scholarly Writing. He has also led the Research & Writing department in creating an online, interactive course that teaches students how to research the law.

Cooney, chair of Cooley’s Research & Writing Department and teaches Research & Writing, Advocacy, Scholarly Writing, and Drafting, presented, “There’s a Hole in the Safety Net: How Legalese Jeopardizes Enforceability.”

Kalinowski, a professor at Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus, serves as the faculty advisor to the Tampa campus Moot Court Board. While at Cooley, she has taught Research and Writing, Advocacy, Advanced Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Evidence.

Marin, director of Academic Support Services, co-presented, “The Power of Words: Achieving Inclusivity in Legal Language.” He teaches Contracts & Torts and oversees Cooley’s dean’s fellows peer-education program.

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