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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.
Niche: The writers focus on particular areas of the law that fewer lawyers are blogging about—or on practicing law in a very specific neck of the woods.
1563
votes
Patently-O
“This is my most important resource for keeping current on intellectual property,” writes Robert P. Cogan of Continuum Law in San Diego. “It provides news of the legal community, decisions, developing legal trends, pending legislation and agency announcements that affect my day-to-day practice. ... The comment section is very important. I can get the benefit of detailed discussions of new developments with many attorneys in the intellectual property community without having to leave my office.”
843
votes
The Pop Tort
From one post: “We love finding fissures in the conservative movement and its generally disparaging views about the civil justice system.” Here, the plaintiffs-side Center for Justice & Democracy makes strident observations about newsy tort cases and never misses the humorous angles.
445
votes
Overlawyered
Written predominantly by Walter Olson, senior fellow at the Cato Institute and author of Schools for Misrule: Legal Academia and an Overlawyered America, Overlawyered makes his case against a litigious society. Advice Goddess columnist Amy Alkon agrees, writing, “Walter Olson does a terrific job of chronicling the negative results of too much law.”
265
votes
SCOTUSblog
If it’s before the U.S. Supreme Court or headed that way, SCOTUSblog—now sponsored by Bloomberg Law and sporting a new look and community-focused feel—most likely reported it first or most. As Appellate Daily blog author Michelle Olsen says, “SCOTUSblog has it all—briefs, ar gument schedules, analysis and news round-ups.” And we heartily second Olsen, who enjoys “Lyle Denniston’s in-depth, intelligent coverage.”
254
votes
Taxgirl
Kelly Phillips Erb has a passion for tax law that is infectious, but more importantly she has the ability to explain that which so many fear. We’re not the only ones who think so. Earlier this year, the witty, engaging Philadelphia lawyer was invited to move her blog to Forbes.com, where she continues to uncover email tax scams, analyze pending tax legislation and examine every inch of the IRS she can access.
215
votes
Bankruptcy Law Network
Have trouble sorting through all the credit and bankruptcy rhetoric during the presidential campaign? The Bankruptcy Law Network, a group of seasoned consumer advocates and bankruptcy lawyers, was quick to post about these issues both in context and in plain English.
125
votes
Drug and Device Law
“Although on the surface this appears to be a very specialized blog, it continues to offer some of the best analysis of civil procedure (e.g., “TwIqbal” pleading, pre-emption), tort (e.g., general defenses in products liability) and evidence (e.g., Daubert) available anywhere,” writes Ted McClure, a law librarian from the Phoenix School of Law. “Unabashedly biased in favor of civil defense, it is accurate, astute, cited by courts, and fun to read.”
104
votes
Religion Clause
UCLA law prof Eugene Volokh of the Volokh Conspiracy summed up why to follow Religion Clause: “It’s the leading news source on cases and controversies dealing with law and religion, both in the United States and abroad.”
95
votes
Brian Leiter's Law School Reports
Drexel’s Dan Filler is the new blogger on the block, joining the University of Chicago’s Leiter to keep the legal academy on top of law school news, including people moves, appointments and goings-on in administration, plus rankings and data to rival those published by U.S. News.
81
votes
CAAFlog
This all-points-military blog came to our attention when its post on a glaring SCOTUS omission landed on the front page of the New York Times and led to a request that the court reconsider a decision banning capital punishment for child rape. Contributors include current and former Navy JAG officers and military judges. Though we’d prefer to see posts organized by topic, we like the courts-martial news roundups and takes on important military law developments.
74
votes
Sports Law Blog
It’s not all fun and games here, where posts from law profs and others tackle all things from the nexus of law and sports. Think the Chicago Cubs’ playoff curse is off-topic? You’d be wrong. In an October post, contributor Howard Wasserman, a law professor at Florida International University, argued that the Cubs may have cursed themselves on the way to their last World Series victory in 1908 by winning a key game against the Giants with an act of “legal formalism.”
63
votes
Deliberations
Those who are looking for insights into what makes a jury tick will find answers at Deliberations, a smart, captivating blog by Milwaukee’s Anne Reed, a trial lawyer and jury consultant. Her posts and analyses are conversational, smattered with enough jury news-of-the-weird to satisfy a general audience. Don’t miss her “juror misconduct” category and the “American Gallery of Juror Art.”
45
votes
Legal Ethics Forum
Legal Ethics Forum takes a dispassionate look at the choices and circumstances that get lawyers into hot water with professional regulators. With more than a dozen named co-authors from across the country, there’s always a fresh post and new perspective to consider.
42
votes
Legal Profession Blog
We rely on this blog for the best cautionary tales of lawyers who’ve run afoul of bar discipline authorities. Step out of line in a major way and these law professors will be posting your travails to the world. There is other more erudite content as well, but we’re in it for the schadenfreude.
32
votes
Law & Disorder
Law & Disorder is the fast-paced, first-on-the-scene legal blog from the technology website Ars Technica. Posts track developments in Internet law and policy in the U.S. and abroad.
