Professor Anthony Niedwiecki, director of the Lawyering Skills Program, has been named president-elect of the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD).
Niedwiecki directs a program that continues to uphold the teaching standards that earned John Marshall the ranking of sixth in the nation for legal writing by U.S. News & World Report. As head of a program that turns out practice-ready graduates by guiding students with proper analysis, writing, research, advocacy and drafting techniques, Niedwiecki is excited to take on this new role.
“It’s a great honor that the people in my field have put their faith in me to be a leader of legal writing professionals,” Niedwiecki says.
ALWD, comprised of more than 200 lawyers from the United States, Canada and Australia, is dedicated to improving legal education and the writing abilities of lawyers. As an affiliated member of the American Bar Association, ALWD provides information regarding legal education, accreditation and lawyering skills. As president, Niedwiecki will oversee and speak for the organization when issues arise with the ABA or legal writing in general.
“My main focus is to improve the use of outcomes assessment in legal education, a movement that will improve the way students learn in law school,” he said. Niedwiecki also plans to urge the ABA to move in a good direction on various law school accreditation issues.
As a representative of John Marshall, Niedwiecki brings to ALWD skills that have helped shape a program that has been ranked in the top 10 of legal writing programs since the category ranking began.
“John Marshall graduates are extremely well trained in legal writing skills and continue to lead the way in being practice-ready,” Niedwiecki says.
John Marshall also plays an active role in the legal writing community, hosting the Annual Legal Writing Institute’s One-Day Teaching Workshop in 2010; Global Legal Skills Conference in May of 2011; Central States Regional Legal Writing Conference in September of 2011; and SCRIBES Annual Meeting and Lecture in 2012.
Before coming to John Marshall in May 2010, Niedwiecki taught legal writing during his fellowship at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. He has made his presence felt as the director of the Lawyering Skills Program at John Marshall.
“When you get an opportunity to direct a top program in the country, you take it,” he says.
