SEATTLE—WordRake Holdings, LLC, a software company focused on clear and concise editing for legal professionals, announced it would award six-month WordRake licenses to the authors of all competition submissions considered by the Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition judges. WordRake is a great fit for any writer who must meet reader demands for clarity and brevity.
“We’re proud to support this competition because it encourages law students to write and think creatively. It can be important to remind law students and young lawyers that writing doesn’t have to be formulaic and stilted—it can be smooth, natural, and concise,” said Ivy B. Grey, Vice President of Strategy at WordRake. “Most of us start to fear creative, freeform writing in law school; we feel like imposters if we don’t follow conventions. This competition encourages everyone to remember their creative side in writing and problem-solving, which benefits the legal profession and enhances access to justice.”
Miguel H. Willis, Executive Director, Access to Justice Tech Fellows Program adds: “The Legal Tech Fictional writing contest provides a unique opportunity for law students to examine the future of law practice and technology through story-telling, without narrow constrictions and boundaries.”
The Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition is hosted by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and the Access to Justice Tech Fellows. Participants are challenged to write a 1,500-word fictional story about how technology will affect the legal field and access to justice. The competition is now in its second year and was created to encourage law students to “think critically about how technology will impact the future practice of law, and access to justice in a fun engaging way.” The organizations hope this creative approach will drive innovative change.
The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2022. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the story will be published in the American Bar Association magazine. All participants will receive six-month licenses to use WordRake. Submissions will be judged on originality; writing quality; depiction of law and technology; and entertainment value.
The panel of judges includes:
- Dorna Moini, CEO, Documate
- Amanda Brown, Executive Director, Lagniappe Law Lab
- Nyssa Chopra, Tech Lawyer, Perkins Coie LLP
- Jason Tashea, Consultant, The World Bank
- Hannah Calhoon, VP, Innovation, Financial Health Network
- Quinten Steenhuis , Professor, Suffolk University Law School
- John Levi, Board Chairman, Legal Services Corporation
- David Colarusso, Director of the LIT Lab, Suffolk Law School
- Aaron Brooks, General Counsel, Bank OZK
- Anne Helms, Pro Bono Counsel
- Claudia Johnson, Program Manager LawHelp Interactive, PBN
- Joseph Gartner, Director, ABA Center for Innovation
“This writing competition was the brainchild of former Director Matthew Stubenberg. I had so much fun judging submissions last year, I was committed to bringing the competition back. I am excited to see what creative (and dark) stories we get this year,” said Irene Mo, Legal Innovation Director, ABA Young Lawyers Division.
About WordRake
Launched in 2012, WordRake is editing software designed by legal writing expert and New York Times bestselling author Gary Kinder. WordRake runs in Microsoft Word and Outlook, and its suggestions appear in the familiar track-changes style. It uses complex, patented algorithms to find and improve weak lead-ins, confusing language, and high-level grammar and usage slips.
About the Competition
The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and the Access to Justice Tech Fellows are hosting the second annual Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition for law students. The goal is to get students to think critically about how technology will impact the future practice of law, and access to justice in a fun engaging way. Learn more about the competition here.
