Readability of Law Blogs and TheRacetotheBottom: It Takes a Genius

Don't ask us how they do it but The Blog Readability Test purports to assess blogs based upon the level of education needed to understand them.  It's a black box but they must be doing something right.  After all, to read TheRacetotheBottom requires a "genius" intellect.  Perhaps it was our vocabulary.  After all, how many Blogs use Sempre Fi and Chickamauga in the same week?  In any event, it is a compliment to anyone reading this Blog.

How do the other blogs come off?  Some of the more popular ones, The Volokh Conspiracy required only an elementary school education;Instapundit and The Wall Street Journal Law blog  junior high;SCOTUS blog and Legal Times, at least a “high school" education; andBrian Leiter's blog takes a genius to read it. 

But more importantly, how are the business law blogs doing?  In general, it requires a fairly sophisticated and educated group of readers to access the information.  The Conglomerate, M&A Law Prof, and Houston’s Clear Thinkers, are at “College – (undergrad)”, Ideoblog, and Truth on the Market are at “College (postgrad).  And, in the genius category with TheRacetotheBottom? Business Law Prof, Delaware Litigation Blog, The Corporatecounsel.net, White Collar Crime Prof,Securities Law Prof and, apparently with all those wine connoisseurs,Professor Bainbridge.    

In my paper on law school rankings and blogging, I listed the top blogs (back in the summer of 2007, so it doesn't include more recent, highly popular blogs such as the M&A Law Prof blog) operated by law faculty. Their readability score?

TaxProf Blog (genius)

Religion Clause (genius)

Sentencing Law & Policy (genius)

WorkPlace (college, undergraduate)

Conglomerate (college undergraduate)

Wills, Trusts (college postgraduate)

Legal Theory (genius)

Federal Civil Practice (junior high school)

White Collar (genius)

Mirror of Justice  (genius)

The Volokh Conspiracy (elementary school)

Truth on the Market (college postgraduate)

Technology & Marketing (college postgraduate)

43(b) log (college postgraduate)

Balkinization (genius)

Concurring Opinions  (college undergraduate)

CrimProf (college postgraduate)

ImmigrationProf (college undergraduate)

Ideoblog (college postgraduate)

This will give you some idea of the accuracy.  Having said that, it looks like there are a considerable number of law faculty writing for the genius market. 

Comments

[Trent Mollet]

Well, that is why I really appreciate having access to a legal dictionary right on this blog... and if that doesn't help, I can always purchase one of the many books you recommend to help me get up-to-date on the topics.