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The 2009 ABA Journal Blawg 100
These are the 100 best Web sites by lawyers, for lawyers, as chosen by the editors of the ABA Journal.
Welcome to the third annual ABA Journal Blawg 100 - the best legal blogs as selected by the Journal's editors.
Our readers clued us in to a few law blogs we'd never seen before, and you'll find them among the 40 blawgs that are new to our list this year.
For a list of all 100 blawgs, complete with their companion Twitter feeds and extra quick takes, click here.
Readers who registered with ABAJournal.com were able to pick up to 10 favorite blawgs in the 10 categories below.
Click here for FAQ about the Blawg 100 and voting.
Voting is now closed.
426
votes
TheCorporateCounsel.net Blog
Broc Romanek’s posts—which appear every weekday, usually before you’ve had your coffee—provide exhaustive coverage of corporate governance topics, the Security and Exchange Commission’s latest moves, and reactions of both companies and shareholders.
204
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.”
139
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.”
78
votes
Work Matters
A reader favorite, Dallas lawyer Michael P. Maslanka consistently produces thoughtful, insightful pieces breaking down recent cases and discussing employment law issues in the news for a blog hosted by Texas Lawyer.
75
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.
73
votes
IPWatchdog
Top dog in 2010’s IP category, Gene Quinn’s IPWatchdog “provides a nice summary of recent patent-related decisions, along with original content and analysis,” says Robert Wagner of Pitts-burgh’s Picadio Sneath Miller & Norton.
55
votes
Marler Blog
You may never look at a produce aisle the same way again once you’ve read Seattle lawyer Bill Marler’s exhaustive coverage of food safety violations. Marler tracks food poisoning cases with a single-minded fervor, offering a valuable resource to trial attorneys, food producers and anyone sitting down to dinner.
53
votes
HealthBlawg
HealthBlawg Health care law consultant David Harlow of Newton, Mass., covers health care legislation and regulations (both at the federal level and in his home state) as well as public health innovations in the private sector.
28
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.
24
votes
Citizen Media Law Project
These bloggers, who cover legal news stories of interest to media lawyers and bloggers, are definitely writing pros who produce timely, fun-to-read posts. They also naturally cover the actions of Harvard’s Citizen Media Law Project, which, among other things, tracks copyright infringement lawsuits directed at online publishers.
22
votes
Counterfeit Chic
Designer handbags and shoes sometimes need lawyers, too, a fact never forgotten by the witty Susan Scafidi, the first U.S. law prof to ever offer a fashion law course. Scafidi highlights IP fights in the fashion and advertising worlds with such verve that at times you’ll feel like you’re reading Vogue (which is always in Scafidi’s briefcase).
15
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.”
13
votes
Green Building Law Blog
At Green Building Law Blog, Philly’s Shari Shapiro digests legislation and research on green building law and explains its significance with enough personality and clarity that a layperson can understand and stay interested. Occasionally, she snags an expert interview for a post.
13
votes
FDA Law Blog
“Given the countless decisions that come out each day in the food and drug industry, it’s tough to separate the wheat from the chaff,” writes Jeff Grizzel of FDA News. “I’m looking for trends, game-changers and reversals of policy, and Kurt [Karst] and Jeffrey [Wasserstein] do a great job.”
11
votes
Copyrights & Campaigns
Last year, the Recording Industry Association of America trials consumed Ben Sheffner’s blog. This year the pro-copyright-owner blogger stuck to his original plan: spotting and debating cases of possible infringement in political ads.
