Golden Pen Award 2006

Legal Writing Institute Honors Joseph M. Williams

The Legal Writing Institute presented its sixth Golden Pen Award on January 6, 2006, at the annual meeting of the AALS in Washington, D.C. This year's winner was Joseph Williams. The language on the plaque, presented by LWI President Terry Seligmann, read as follows:

The Legal Writing Institute presents its sixth Golden Pen Award to Joseph M. Williams. His classic book, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, now in its seventh edition, has strongly influenced a generation of professional writers. And it has just as strongly influenced and informed the professors who teach the next generation of lawyers. For all the lessons that he has taught us, we thank him with this award.

Joe Williams's longtime friend and colleague George Gopen introduced Joe with some comments about his principles for clear writing and his extraordinary influence in the field. During his remarks, Joe briefly demonstrated how the principles he advocates might--or might not--apply to the Declaration of Independence.