Jill Barton, professor of Legal Writing and director of the Legal Communication and Research Skills program, has been named to the Board of Directors of Scribes—The American Society of Legal Writers.
Founded in 1951, Scribes is the nation’s premier organization dedicated to fostering excellence, clarity, and professionalism in legal writing. By joining the board, Barton continues Miami Law’s tradition of leadership in the field of legal communication, joining a distinguished group of judges, practitioners, and legal scholars.
Barton’s appointment comes on the heels of the release of her latest book, The Supreme Guide to Writing (Oxford University Press, 2024). The work, which analyzed over 10,000 pages of U.S. Supreme Court opinions, has been hailed for its insight into how the nation's highest court is transitioning toward a more conversational and accessible writing style.
"Clear communication is the heartbeat of the legal profession," said Barton. "I am honored to serve on the Scribes board and to support its mission of championing a succinct and forceful style that makes the law more understandable for everyone."
Beyond her role at Miami Law, Barton is a prolific author whose work has shaped the education of thousands of law students. She is the author of The Handbook for the New Legal Writer, a textbook now in its third edition, as well as So Ordered, a specialized guide tailored for aspiring judges and judicial clerks. Her scholarly approach to legal prose is uniquely informed by her background as an award-winning journalist for the Associated Press, where she honed the skills in clarity and narrative that she now imparts to her students.
