Hi, I’m Deborah Weiss, a Los Angeles based writer, legal writing instructor, and lawyer. I live in what I lovingly refer to as a dilapidated barn in the Santa Monica Mountains with my husband, son, a dog who thinks he’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, a pig who likes to watch tv, four rock n roll parrots, a turtle, and a bunch of chickens.
My kids are grown up, but I don’t want to be. This blog is my way of reaching out to folks like me who want to take risks, create, and explore. You will find essays about anything that sounds interesting to me, books to read (or not), ideas that don’t always make sense, and all things animal!
In addition to blogging, I am on the editorial board of the California Real Property Journal, have published book reviews for the 9th Circuit Historical Society, and teach legal writing and analysis for foreign lawyers. I am working on a memoir about how my chickens saved my life. When I am not litigating, teaching or writing, I can be found hiking with my dog or at home cleaning up countless types of animal poop.
You can find me at thebarnyardblog.com or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.