On occasion, we hear from Forum members that they do not know how to get published in Under Construction. To be published, follow these 3 Steps!
STEP 1 – Contact an Under Construction Editor
The editors are:
- Tom Dunn, Editor, Pierce Atwood, LLP, Boston, MA & Providence, RI, [email protected]
- Neal Sweeney, Associate Editor, Jones Walker, LLP, Atlanta, GA, [email protected]
- Jean M. Terry, Contributing Editor, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, Louisville, KY, [email protected]
- Michael D. Lane, Contributing Editor, Riess LeMieux, New Orleans, LA, [email protected]
We are here to work with you regarding your article whether you have a final draft ready, have a topic, or are an interested author without a topic. We will put you into our “author queue” and assign you a primary editor to work with you to set an editing/publication schedule.
STEP 2 – WRITE AN EXCELLENT CONSTRUCTION LAW ARTICLE
Under Construction publishes practice-oriented construction law articles of broad application nationally or internationally. Topics on state-specific issues will be considered if other jurisdictions are examined as well.
Our most popular articles often center on core concepts of construction law such as consequential damages, drafting a complaint to trigger insurance coverage, and the intersection of express and implied warranties. Visit the Under Construction Library on ABA Connect to view prior editions going back to 2001.
Given that construction law covers an expansive subject matter, with topics including litigation, ADR, employment, labor, contracts, regulatory, liens, insurance, lending, bonds, etc., we strive to make Under Construction to similarly be diverse in content. The Forum’s 14 Divisions, which are organized into different subject matters of construction law, often provide that diversity of content.
Under Construction also has regular columns which should be considered if you have an interest in writing for Under Construction:
- On In-House Counsel’s Desk. A collaboration with Division 11 (In-House Counsel), this column provides topics of interest to our members who work directly for their private or public client.
- Construction Law 101. As a bridge to assist the newer members of our bar, we publish fundamental construction law articles in each edition. The Young Lawyers Division remains an excellent team member in coming up with these topics and providing authors.
- Diversity and Inclusion. We work with the Forum’s standing committee on Diversity and Inclusion to publish articles written by diverse members of the Forum and/or on topics to increase the awareness and implementation of diversity and inclusion measures.
- Member Feature. We highlight individual members or groups of the Forum on a reoccurring basis.
- Meeting Recap. We publish summaries of the prior national meetings to communicate the educational and networking activities that occurred at the meetings for those members who may not have been able to attend.
We also find the most interesting articles are from members who feel passionate about their topic. So, the next time you or your colleagues dig into an uncertain area of the law or navigate your clients through a challenging negotiation, consider that experience for an Under Construction article.
We are looking for short articles: 1,000 – 1,500 words. While focusing our authors, it also enables each of the articles to be considered as the cover or featured author for the print edition of Under Construction. We do accept articles more than 1,500 words for Under Construction Online.
Be creative! We want Under Construction to be dynamic and engage with our audience. Include photographs, graphs, charts, or other media to communicate the substance of your article to our membership.
STEP 3 – FOLLOW THE AUTHOR GUIDELINES
Under Construction’s Author Guidelines and FAQs are located in the Library of Under Construction’s ABA Connect Page.
If you are not a member of Under Construction’s ABA Connect Page, join by clicking below: CLICK HERE TO JOIN UC’S ABA CONNECT PAGE
The benefits of publication are substantial for our authors, our author’s companies/firms, and the Forum.
For our authors, we mail an 8-page newsletter to each of the members of the Forum three times per year. While we do not have the space to include the full content of all articles in the paper edition, we include the author and article information in the UC Online portion of the paper copy. In addition, we distribute each edition of Under Construction through email, ABA Connect, and social media to our members. This process ensures that our author’s contribution touches the Forum’s 6,000 members and other construction industry professionals numerous times.
The Forum benefits by giving exceptional content and information to its membership. By providing diversified, reliable construction law articles, the Forum will maintain and expand its membership and continue with its objective to build the best construction lawyers.