Professor Abby Perdue Becomes President of the Legal Writing Institute 

This past July, Wake Forest Law Professor Abby Perdue officially began her term of president of the Legal Writing Institute (LWI). LWI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving legal communication, building the discipline of legal writing, and improving the status of legal writing faculty across the country. It is the largest organization of legal writing professionals, with over 1,700 members across the world.

“It’s an honor and privilege to lead this incredible organization,” says Professor Perdue. “I’m blessed to work with an amazing team of talented, hardworking people. I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to give back to LWI because it has had an indelible impact on my career.”  

In her role as president, Professor Perdue leads the organization; oversees the process by which the LWI’s board of directors develops or amends policies and priorities; and contributes to the planning and operation of the organization’s publications, projects, events, conferences, and workshops. 

Director of Wake Forest Law’s Legal Analysis Writing & Research program Professor Laura Graham said of Professor Perdue: “Abby has done a remarkable job as President-Elect, leading the planning of our Biennial Conference.”

Professor Perdue, who teaches legal analysis, writing, and research, has been actively involved in LWI for many years, serving in a number of capacities, including co-chair of the 2022 Biennial Conference, co-chair of the New Member Outreach Committee, and co-editor-in-chief of The Second Draft, a publication of LWI. The founding director of Wake Forest Law’s DC Summer Judicial Externship program, Professor Perdue also chairs Wake Forest’s Clerkship Committee. In 2021, she was the recipient of the Joseph Branch Award in Teaching Excellence.

“Abby is a great choice for the next President of LWI,” says Professor Kimberly Holst (Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University). “In addition to being hard working, she has lots of great ideas about how we can both motivate and support our membership in new and exciting ways. For example, [her idea to include unique wellbeing offerings and appoint wellbeing chairs] at the recent LWI Biennial Conference offered members the opportunity to both share and learn about well-being in conference presentations, but more importantly to engage in them—with a wellness area complete with chair massages, creativity games, and more.”

Congratulations to Professor Perdue!

Photos taken by Dave Jaynes, courtesy of Indiana University McKinney School of Law