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The 2008 ABA Journal Blawg 100
These are the 100 best Web sites by lawyers, for lawyers, as chosen by the editors of the ABA Journal.
The voting period has ended.
Thank you to all who participated. The final results are listed below.
For a printable list of all 100 blogs, click here. Check out the mini profiles of Ann Althouse, Ernie Svenson and Jurist-Paper Chase. For our list of One-Hit Wonders, click here.
News: There’s everything here from hard news coverage of the law and the legal industry to a more tabloid-oriented, infotainment approach to covering lawyers and where they work.
1378
votes
Above the Law
Breaking Media’s Above the Law is developing into a legal publishing empire, with streams on BigLaw, small firms, in-house, law schools and legal technology. Blogger Ken Adams of Koncision Contract Automation in Garden City, N.Y., says he’s “way older than the target demographic,” but nevertheless he finds “Elie Mystal to be the most engaging writer in the legal blogosphere.” Adams says Mystal is “combative, entertaining” and refreshingly self-deprecating. We agree.
586
votes
TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime
The A-team at TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime—Jeralyn Merritt of Denver, T. Christopher Kelly of Madison, Wis., and Armando Llorens of San Juan, Puerto Rico—take a shamelessly liberal view of crime and justice news and issues.
483
votes
The Volokh Conspiracy
The 19 or so (all male) contributors to the Volokh Conspiracy present and debate constitutional law and headlines that grab them at the moment. While commentary generally flows libertarian and conservative, no opinion is likely to go unchallenged by other contributors or their active reader base.
235
votes
FP Legal Post
The financial section of Canada’s National Post points readers north and south of the border to legal news they might otherwise have overlooked. Although the blog’s mission statement also includes “gossip,” many posts focus on deals, litigation, ethics, lawyer pay, firm management issues and legislation.
189
votes
The Am Law Daily
To get a quick take on the goings-on at large law firms in the U.S. and increasingly abroad, this is a go-to American Lawyer magazine blog. It offers quick, insightful takes on firms working the big deals, the career paths of rainmakers, the churn of partners jumping from one firm to another, legal industry growth areas and weak spots putting practices (and sometimes firms) at risk.
176
votes
Daily Kos
Instead of starting a practice after law school, Markos Moulitsas Zúniga started a liberal political blog. Six years later, more than a half-million visits per day keep his “vast left-wing conspiracy” alive. Fellow Kos bloggers come from all walks of life, from a Chicago associate to a physician from Connecticut. Even former President Jimmy Carter has posted on Kos.
170
votes
Althouse
In nearly eight years of blogging, Ann Althouse doesn’t miss a chance to offer her conservative take on the latest political dustup. Or become part of a dustup, as she did this year in a well-publicized (and videotaped) altercation with a pro-labor demonstrator in Madison, Wis., where she lives. Readers less interested in her commentary on pop culture or politics can “make Althouse an all-law blog” in her main nav bar.
168
votes
How Appealing
No trial practice advice here, but Willow Grove, Pa., appellate lawyer Howard Bashman digests the most relevant and interesting opinions, headlines, blog posts and press releases of interest to litigators for up to 16 hours a day every weekday. We defy you to open the home page and not feel compelled to click on a link.
153
votes
Law Blog
For most of the year, former BigLaw litigator Nathan Koppel held the reins at this Wall Street Journal blog. He grabbed hold of breaking legal news and reactions to significant legal de velopments while staying on top of the business of law firms (from layoffs to big hires) and covering the cases and court decisions affecting the business community. He heads to Texas for the WSJ, and we hope his successor picks up where Koppel left off.
148
votes
InstaPundit
From his seat on the far right, University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds seems to spend every waking moment linking to and quipping on news stories about politics, economics, the media, and science and technology law. Also look here for The Glenn and Helen Show podcast, which Reynolds co-hosts with his wife, forensic psychologist Dr. Helen Smith.
106
votes
The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times
Inside the Beltway, the National Law Journal’s BLT has the practice and politics of law covered. We’re particular fans of the blog’s gavel-to-gavel coverage of the high court (and its players) as lead writer Tony Mauro cuts through jargon, and wades through dense opinions and briefs to deliver easy-to-read posts featuring momentous cases and, on occasion, offering unique perspectives about the lesser-known side of SCOTUS.
96
votes
Jurist—Paper Chase
Stories here never lack for sources, always linking to original reports, legal documents and information on the people making news. Check out this site for frequent updates on the courts’ treatment of Guantanamo detainees.
88
votes
Legal Blog Watch
Legal Blog Watch has a knack for spotlighting the legal news of the weird. Posts are well-written and, as Lowering the Bar blogger Kevin Underhill says, “very witty and always interesting.”
36
votes
Law and More
“Independent journalist” Jane Genova was originally drawn to the law blogging game by lead paint litigation in Rhode Island, and consumer law is still a main topical focus. But some posts are career pep talks, and whatever’s hot—be it law firm turmoil or Wall Street drama—also gets coverage.
