About

SharkGoldfishCropped2Overlawyered, published by the Cato Institute since 2013, began in July 1999 and is regularly described as the oldest law blog; at least, no one seems to be able to name one that’s older. Its founder and predominant writer is Walter Olson, a senior fellow at Cato and author of several books about the U.S. legal system including The Litigation Explosion, The Excuse Factory, The Rule of Lawyers, and Schools for Misrule. Between 2003 and 2010 it also featured frequent contributions by Ted Frank, who founded and directs the Center for Class Action Fairness and is an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute. New Jersey lawyer David Nieporent also contributed occasionally, and the site has had dozens of visiting guestbloggers.

The site took advertising for a while but at the moment does not.

For a sampling of the many nice things said about us, check our accolades page.

— Walter Olson, editor

Walter Olson’s Books

The site’s original self-description:

Overlawyered.com explores an American legal system that too often turns litigation into a weapon against guilty and innocent alike, erodes individual responsibility, rewards sharp practice, enriches its participants at the public’s expense, and resists even modest efforts at reform and accountability.

4 Comments

  • […] think Walter Olson started this discussion with a provocative post for the Atlantic, but here are some choice […]

  • […] by American computer programmer Jorn Barger, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the first legal blog, Overlawyered, written by Walter Olson of think tank The Cato Institute appeared. Hot on Olson’s heels was New […]

  • […] think Walter Olson started this discussion with a provocative post for the Atlantic, but here are some choice […]

  • […] by American computer programmer Jorn Barger, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the first legal blog, Overlawyered, written by Walter Olson of think tank The Cato Instituteappeared. Hot on Olson’s heels was New […]