The Legislation and Policy Brief (“LPB”) is the legislative-based legal publication of the American University Washington College of Law.

LPB was founded in 2008 as the Legislation and Policy Roundtable. The goal of the Roundtable was to provide a legal analysis of current legislative initiatives and policies through an entirely electronic publication and to encourage meaningful debate through the “Roundtable Live” panel series. Initial articles had a specific theme, the first of which was on Election Law. That issue was accompanied by a panel focusing on disenfranchisement and fraud in the 2008 Elections.

The Brief took its current name in 2009. It has continued the legacy of the Roundtable by publishing legal articles throughout the academic semester and by hosting a symposium at least once a year. In 2011, the Brief started its own online blog to provide readers and staff members the ability to discuss a greater diversity of current issues.

LPB aims to increase discussion and awareness of legal issues in pending legislation. LPB looks to make the Washington College of Law a better support mechanism for the future legislative-lawyer by providing training in, and a publishing forum for, in-depth legislative history and analysis. LPB aims to bring in practicing legislative-lawyers from Congress, the Administration, and other interest groups to talk about their experiences in developing legislation. The Brief also encourages the Washington College of Law to develop more courses related to legislative drafting and process.

LPB publishes legal articles online throughout the year to keep up with the review of pending legislation, conducts a symposium at least once a year, and hosts an online blog providing non-partisan legal analysis of current legislation and policy issues before federal and state legislatures. LPB articles cover a wide range of legislative areas.

For inquiries, please email AULPB@wcl.american.edu.