Hofstra Law Professor Richard K. Neumann, Jr. Wins Burton Award

Hofstra Law School, Hempstead, N.Y. —

Hofstra Law Professor Richard K. Neumann, Jr. is the winner of the 2009 Burton Award for Outstanding Contributions to Legal Writing Education.  The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement are conferred by the Burton Foundation.

“It's an honor to be recognized by the Burton Foundation, which is a leading advocate for clear and lively legal writing,” said Professor Neumann. 

The Burton Award for Outstanding Contributions to Legal Writing Education is given annually to an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the education of lawyers in the field of legal analysis, research and writing, whether through teaching, program design, program support, innovative thinking, or writing.  Professor Neumann is being recognized for his legal writing teaching and scholarship, as well as his contributions to the advancement of the legal writing profession.

The Burton Foundation was established by William C. Burton, a partner in the law firm of Sagat/Burton LLP, author of Burton’s Legal Thesaurus.  The award program is presented in association with the Law Library of Congress.

Earlier this year, Professor Neumann received the 2009 Legal Writing, Reasoning and Research Section Award from the Association of American Law School (AALS), for significant lifetime contributions to the field of legal research and writing. 

A member of the Hofstra Law faculty since 1978, Neumann is a leading authority on legal education and the teaching of legal writing.  He is the author of one “Legal Reasoning and Legal Writing” and a coauthor of two others, “Legal Writing” and “Essential Lawyering Skills.”  All three books are used in law schools nationwide.  

In addition to legal writing and research, Neumann has taught courses in contracts, transactional lawyering, civil procedure, legal interviewing, counseling and negotiation, pretrial litigation, federal courts, trial techniques and clinical courses.

Neumann holds a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, a diploma from University of Stockholm, a J.D. from American University and an L.L.M. from Temple University.