Topic Selection
Footnotes
Length
Co-authorship
Copyright
Reprints
Editorial Policy
Submission & Format
Contact Us

Manuscripts are divided into sections according to topic and intended audience: Articles, Commentaries, and Trial or Courtroom Techniques. In the Commentary section, lawyers and judges air their views on new or controversial topics outside the scope of a full-length article. The Article section is intended for a thoroughly researched discussion of new theories of the law with a practical application to the trial attorney's daily practice. Trial Techniques, unique to the Journal, are how-to discussions of proven trial tactics that include supporting case law and other research.

Topic. Select a topic that best utilizes your expertise in providing current information on techniques, strategies, or the law that will be of practical utility to trial lawyers and judges. In order to avoid an overlap of topics, you may wish to contact an Articles Editor prior to beginning a manuscript.

Footnotes are used to illustrate points, to cite authority for legal assertions, and to lead the reader to research material needed to utilize the information given in the text. Although your footnotes need not be voluminous, proper documentation is required. The Journal follows the legal citation rules in the most recent edition of The Bluebook, and your citations should conform to this method as closely as possible.

Length. Articles are typically 5000 to 8000 words in length (25-50 double-spaced pages). However, the length of your manuscript ultimately depends upon the nature of your topic and your treatment of it. Trial Techniques are sometimes shorter in length (15-35 double-spaced pages) and contain fewer footnotes (20-100).

Co-authorship is acceptable. The Journal does not publish student authors or co-authors in the Article, Commentary, or Trial Technique sections. However, if you utilize student resources such as law clerks or research assistants, you may wish to acknowledge their assistance in a footnote.  (Note to student authors:  We reserve the publication of student pieces for Journal members only.)

Copyright. Authors retain copyright of their manuscripts, although the Journal reserves certain non-exclusive copyright privileges. You will be asked to sign an agreement that sets out the terms of publication. The Journal acknowledges your right to use your material in future publication efforts, provided proper acknowledgement of the Journal's publication is given.

Reprints. The Journal will furnish you with a copy of the issue in which your article appears as well as several complimentary bound reprints of your article. Additional reprints of your article are available at reasonable cost.

Editorial Policy. General policy is to respect the writing style of our authors. However, the Journal reserves the right to make necessary editorial changes. You will be given a final copy of the manuscript for review just prior to publication. The Journal reserves the right to accept or deny publication of any manuscript. Should problems arise regarding publication of an article, the Editors will make every effort to work with an author.

Submission & Format. The Journal uses WordPerfect and Word in the production of its books. We welcome submissions in either format via email. If you wish to mail your manuscript, please submit two (2) hard copies as well as an electronic copy on CD.

Contact us.  If you are interested in possibly publishing in the Journal, please complete our short response form so that we can more intelligently assist you.

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