Touro Law to Honor Legal Lit Legend Grisham

John Grisham will receive the Bruce K. Gould Book Award from Touro Law Center.// Facebook Photo courtesy of John Grisham

By David Brand

He’s sold hundreds of millions of novels and his legal thrillers have inspired generations of lawyers. Now he’s coming to Touro Law Center to pick up his prize.

Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center will honor John Grisham with the school’s annual Bruce K. Gould Book Award for his most recent novel The Rooster Bar on Oct. 22. Grisham’s best-selling works include A Time to Kill, The Firm and The Pelican Brief.

Each year, the university presents the award to the author of an outstanding publication related to the law, the legal profession or the legal system. The prize is named for benefactor Bruce K. Gould, an 1984 graduate of Touro Law Center. Gould is a founding member and second president of Touro Law Center’s Alumni Association and a member of Touro Law Center’s Board of Governors.

Past recipients include Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor for her book My Beloved World, Anita Hill for her book Speaking Truth to Power and Bob Woodward for his book The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006 - 2008.

Grisham graduated from University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law throughout the Eighties. He also served in the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1984 to 1990.

The award, which was first handed out in 1991, is regarded as one of the most prestigious prizes for law-related literature.

The event begins with the award presentation and acceptance speech at 1:30 p.m. and a book signing at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. The university will provide complimentary transportation from midtown Manhattan. Attendees must reserve their seats in advance by emailing events@tourolaw.edu or visiting tlccommunity.tourolaw.edu/bruce-k-gould-book-award.