Joe Kimble receives award for plain language work
Joe Kimble
Joe Kimble, Professor of Law and Center for Plain Language board member, has been recognized for his plain language work – for promoting good writing and research at every turn.
The award is from the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research is given periodically to honor lifetime contributions to legal writing and research.
One of his most recent projects was redrafting the Federal Rules of Evidence. The goal of that project was to make the rules clearer, more consistent, and more readable — all without changing their meaning. He also led the redrafting of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Joe has been a champion of the Center for Plain Language from the beginning. He helped to get the Center going and served as Treasurer in its early years. He remains an active member of the Center’s Board of Directors. He also works with:
- Scribes, the American Society of Legal Writers, where he is editor in chief of the Journal of Legal Writing
- Clarity, an international group whose aim is the use of clear language by the legal profession
- Legal Writing Institute, a forum for scholarship and discussion about legal writing
- The Michigan Bar Journal, where he is the editor of the “Plain Language” column
He is the author of Lifting the Fog of Legalese: Essays on Plain Language and many other books, book chapters, and articles telling lawyers why and how to write in plain language.
This is not his first award. The Plain English Campaign in England and Plain Langauge Association International have also honored him for being a “champion leader and visionary in the international plain-language field.”
We couldn’t agree more.
