Legal Writing Dean: Eleanor Barrett |
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January 22, 2013,
Volume 59, No. 18 |
Eleanor Roy Barrett, L’05, a summa cum laude graduate of Penn Law who has served as a legal writing instructor, has been appointed associate dean for legal writing and communications in Penn Law, a new position created to enhance and expand the Law School’s legal writing and skills program.
In announcing the appointment, Law Dean Michael A. Fitts said, “Eleanor will be working with our faculty to develop a newly expanded skills program in legal writing, drafting, and communication, building on Penn Law’s strong first-year legal research and writing program in ways that prepare students for the realities of modern legal practice.”
Dean Fitts added, “In her new role, she will build a series of opportunities for students to gain hands-on, practical, and in-depth experience of the communication and presentation skills required of lawyers in today’s increasingly technological and interdisciplinary practice.”
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Barrett clerked for the Hon. Marjorie Rendell, on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She also taught in Penn Law’s Legal Writing Program, working with Master of Laws (LLM) students, an assignment she will continue as associate dean.
Ms. Barrett has extensive legal experience, in addition to her clerkship. She has done trial work at Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, DC, where she represented corporate clients, and at Duane Morris in Philadelphia, where she engaged in commercial litigation. Prior to attending Penn Law, Ms. Barrett worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Co.
Law Deputy Dean William Burke-White, who chaired the search committee, said that during the interview process, “Ms. Barrett impressed with her ability not only to envision an expanded first-year program, but also with creative approaches to introducing communication skills into the upper level curriculum and engaging in partnership with our Center on Professionalism initiatives and with her unwavering drive to enhance and expand our legal writing and skills program.”
Ms. Barrett is expected to bring a formal proposal for an expanded writing program to the Penn Law faculty this spring for implementation in the coming year. |