“Elevating legal scholarship, one book at a time.”
Launched in 2021, the Burton Book Review Program assembles a panel of esteemed lawyers and academics to curate and critique the most impactful new titles in law.
🏛️ Our Roots
The Review Program is the newest initiative from the Burton Awards, renowned for honoring excellence in legal writing across the United States. By extending our focus from briefs and articles to full‑length books, we continue a two‑decade tradition of celebrating top‑tier legal thought.
🎯 Mission & Vision
Mission: Provide busy jurists, scholars, and practitioners with a trusted filter for the ever‑growing catalog of legal publications.
Vision: A legal community empowered by accessible, authoritative book reviews that highlight diversity of thought and promote rigorous scholarship.
- Spotlight outstanding authors
- Guide library acquisitions & course syllabi
- Encourage public engagement with legal issues
Get Involved
Interested in recommending a new title, collaborating, or joining the reviewer pool? We’d love to hear from you.
How Books Are Chosen
Nomination
Committee compiles a long‑list of new releases from major presses.
Assignment
Titles are distributed to reviewers during scheduled meetings (see full timeline).
Evaluation
Reviewers analyze merit, clarity, and contribution to legal discourse before submitting 800–1,200‑word critiques.
Publication & Reach
Completed reviews are slated for publication by the Law Library of Congress or an equally prominent institution, giving authors and readers unparalleled visibility.
Impact Highlights
- 15 Book titles in inaugural list
- 6 Committee meetings per review cycle
- 3 Distinguished reviewers on founding panel
- 1 Central goal: elevate legal writing
Editorial Board
Distinguished Committee
Renowned scholars and practitioners committed to advancing legal scholarship through rigorous analysis
Janet E. Stearns
Lecturer, University of Miami School of Law
MaryAnne Lavan
Former Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Dean C. Rowan
Director of Reference & Research Services, Berkeley Law Library
Alan Untereiner
Founding Partner, Robbins Russell & Former Partner, Mayer Brown
Kristen Tiscione
Professor of Legal Writing, Georgetown University Law Center
Susannah Barton Tobin
Ezra Ripley Thayer Senior Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School
Cecilia A. Silver
Senior Research Scholar in Law, and Director of Legal Research and Writing
