Book entries now being taken for Harper Lee Prize

The University of Alabama School of Law is now taking entries for the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, which annually honors fiction writing about lawyers’ role in society, and how they can bring about change. Entries must be book-length works of fiction published in 2015. The deadline to submit…

Jan 7, 2016 2:55 PM CST

Harper Lee Prize winner tells how history and race shaped her Southern gothic novel (podcast)

The Secret of Magic is a book within a book. It is both the title of Deborah Johnson’s 2015 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction-winning novel, and (in the world of that novel) a reclusive writer’s scandalous 1920s children’s book, which dared to feature black and white playmates solving mysteries…

Dec 21, 2015 8:30 AM CST

Linda Fairstein chats about her Alex Cooper series—and reveals an exciting new project (podcast)

In the hands of author Linda Fairstein, fictional sex-crimes prosecutor Alex Cooper has enjoyed a career spanning 17 books and almost two decades. Cooper's 16th adventure, Terminal City, was selected as one of the three finalists for the 2015 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. Fairstein spoke with the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles and shared some exciting news about a brand new project in the works.

Aug 26, 2015 4:23 PM CDT

‘The Secret of Magic’ awarded the 2015 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction

Deborah Johnson has been awarded the 2015 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction for The Secret of Magic. “We’re thrilled with this year’s selection,” said Allen Pusey, editor and publisher of the ABA Journal, who was on the selection committee for the Harper Lee Prize finalists. “The Secret of Magic…

Jul 1, 2015 2:09 PM CDT

Help decide the winner of the 2015 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction

The ABA Journal and the University of Alabama School of Law are proud to announce the finalists for the fifth annual Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. The books picked as this year’s finalists are My Sister’s Grave, by Robert Dugoni; Terminal City, by Linda Fairstein; and The Secret of…

May 14, 2015 2:00 PM CDT

Harper Lee, ABA Journal fiction prizes announced

John Grisham is a best-selling author who has seen many of his books become major Hollywood pictures. Jason Bailey is a first-time author who maintains a busy legal practice in western Colorado and only writes during his spare time. What do these two writers have in common? This year, they…

Sep 4, 2014 4:28 PM CDT

Help pick the winner of the 2014 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction

The three finalists for the 2014 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction have been announced by the ABA Journal and the University of Alabama Law School, co-sponsors of the Harper Lee Prize. They are: Ronald H. Balson for Once We Were Brothers; John Grisham for Sycamore Row; and Elizabeth Strout…

May 29, 2014 1:30 PM CDT

What were the best legal novels of 2013? (podcast)

Dec 19, 2013 6:45 PM CST

Paul Goldstein’s ‘Havana Requiem’ wins Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction

Stanford law professor Paul Goldstein and his novel Havana Requiem have been awarded the third annual Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. The prize will be awarded at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 19, in conjunction with the National Book Festival. The prize, named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning…

Jul 15, 2013 1:30 PM CDT

Help pick the best legal novel of the year: Vote for one of three Harper Lee Prize finalists

Three clients—a homeless Iraq war veteran, an aging Cuban musician and the troubled son of an assistant district attorney—are the focal points of three novels selected as finalists for the 2013 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. The three finalists were announced Tuesday by the ABA Journal and the University…

May 28, 2013 1:45 PM CDT

Michael Connelly Accepts Second Annual Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction at Ceremony

Nov 1, 2012 9:00 AM CDT

Michael Connelly Wins 2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction

Michael Connelly’s legal thriller The Fifth Witness has been named the winner of the 2nd Annual Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. The Fifth Witness, which debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List, features a recurring Connelly book character, the maverick Los Angeles lawyer Mickey…

Jul 17, 2012 9:55 PM CDT

‘Breach of Trust’ Tells Ripped-from-the-Headlines Tale of Government Corruption and Intrigue

In 'Breach of Trust,' an intrepid attorney (with nothing left to lose after the deaths of his wife and daughter) scales the state government ladder to solve the murder of a potential witness and expose the corruption that leads all the way to the governor's mansion. ABA Journal's Lee Rawles speaks with David Ellis about the real-life influences behind his award-nominated novel.

Jun 25, 2012 1:30 PM CDT

Help Pick the Legal Novel of the Year; Vote for One of Three Harper Lee Prize Finalists

After reviewing some 40 submissions, judges have selected three finalists for the 2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. Now you can help them pick the winner by voting in the poll accompanying this post through July 8. Those up for the prize this year are: Michael Connelly, author of…

May 16, 2012 5:47 PM CDT

The Confession: Excerpt from John Grisham’s Winning Entry for Harper Lee Prize

Oct 1, 2011 10:00 AM CDT