Althouse: Writing about the law.

February 9, 2007

Writing about the law.

Look at all these cool people who are going to be speaking at a symposium at New York Law School next Friday.

18 comments:

Ruth Anne Adams said...: Will John AltCo [blue book aficionado] be joining you?; 2/9/07, 2:09 PM
Unknown said...: And you're at the top of the list! Oh wait it's alphabetical order :) . Enjoy your visit to our little town. What are the odd that we can get a gathering of readers for a meet up at some point?; 2/9/07, 2:10 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Yes, I've been at the top of many lists using that little ruse.; 2/9/07, 2:25 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I might do that if I have time.; 2/9/07, 2:25 PM
FatOllie said...: Be careful, Professor, some people there may be known libertarian sympathizers.; 2/9/07, 2:48 PM
Simon said...: This would provide an ideal opportunity for you to post a copy of Late Night Confessions for those without lexis/wl access, would it not? It covers a subject that seems to dovetail. I particularly liked (and have tried to absorb) the suggestion that those writing about the law should "[w]rite 'essays' instead of 'articles.' This is not mere label-switching. Calling what you write an essay can bring you into touch with its character as a personal expression, its immediacy, and can make you more aware of its literary quality. An essay is something readable and provocative, not a turgid authoritative disquisition intended to prove what a learned, unassailable authority figure you turned out to be. If you are a pompous windbag, if you write bad prose, be embarrassed." I've mentioned before that I deleted several pages of my foreign law paper trying to comply with that directive.

Re Aaron's comment, I think that would be nice, and FWIW, I've more or less decided to go to the FedSoc gathering in Chicago this month, so if anyone else is going, feel free to drop me an email.; 2/9/07, 3:34 PM
Richard Dolan said...: I will be out of town, but otherwise I would have been delighted to join in the gathering that Aaron proposes. From the list of speakers, it sounds like quite an eclectic group at this symposium. Enjoy.; 2/9/07, 4:16 PM
Dave said...: Interesting. Even though I'm not a lawyer and never went to law school I always find them an interesting species to hear speak.

If I can get time off work on Fri. I'll head down there.; 2/9/07, 6:12 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: Uh-oh, according to Wiki---the definition of "Symposium" has very raunchy connotations:

"A youth would attend as the companion and beloved of an adult with whom he was involved in a pederastic relationship."

"Singly or in pairs, the men would recline on couches arrayed against the walls of the room. Food, wine (usually mixed with water and served by nude young men), and entertainment was provided, "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium

Peace, Maxine; 2/9/07, 8:41 PM
David53 said...: You are cool, the rest are just sort of cool.; 2/9/07, 9:17 PM
J. Cricket said...: Sorry David53:

CALLING yourself cool actually makes you uncool.; 2/9/07, 9:36 PM
Palladian said...: If there's time for a Althousemeetup, count me in.; 2/9/07, 11:56 PM
Anonymous said...: So close to Ground Zero.

Ground zero of course being the nabe of Downtown Lad.; 2/10/07, 12:30 AM
hdhouse said...: Ohhhh Boy. Worth the train ticket into the city for that one!

I'm soooo excited. Maybe Ann will speak to me.; 2/10/07, 2:58 AM
Ann Althouse said...: If you want to attend the symposium, go here and register. It's free, but you have to register.

Palladian, if you would would definitely commit to attending, email me. It would need to be on Saturday.; 2/10/07, 7:56 AM
paul a'barge said...: Number 2 on your list is Balkin. Take a look at what has been written on his blog.

So, if this is any indication of the kinds of morons who cluster together and call themselves professors of law, I for one hope you have better reasons for visiting NYC. In other words, here's hoping the meeting is not a moronic convergence.

Maybe while you're there, you could take Balkin and his collaborators by the hand, and take them on a tour of lower Manhattan, to visit the site previously known as the WTC.; 2/10/07, 8:28 AM
Simon said...: Paul,
As much as I hate to defend Balkin, who's written plenty of things that I disagree with quite strongly, the piece you link to was written by Sandy Levinson. I can't bring myself to defend him (his book makes me so angry that I've thought about buying a boat, just so I have a yardarm that we can hang him from after the treason trial), so I won't, but suffice to say that just because one thinks the Constitution should be changed doesn't necessarily make one a bad writer, and doesn't mean that one can't teach about it even-handedly.

Group blogs have a complex dynamic - I'm sure that my co-bloggers don't agree with everything I've written at Stubborn Facts (indeed, I know for certain that they haven't, because they've said so), and I haven't agreed with everything they've written. But as long as it's all within the ballpark, there's a go along to get along aspect to it.; 2/10/07, 12:43 PM
Unknown said...: Ironically enough (I hope this is the right definition of irony) if we have the get together on Saturday, I won't be able to attend. Have fun with out me though.; 2/10/07, 6:53 PM