FOCUS OF COMMITTEE CONTENT
Committee content should focus on advice and recommendations from members to other members. Committees should deemphasize “breaking news” and case developments, and instead focus on producing practical advice, analysis, and recommendations on such topics as:
- Pretrial, trial, and appellate skills
- “Deep dive” analysis in specific areas of the law
- Generating business
- Succeeding in different practice settings
- Running a litigation-focused practice
- Ethics in litigation practice
- Advice for young litigators
- Maintaining work-life balance
Where a committee feels that a development in the law deserves to be analyzed, that type of content remains entirely appropriate but the prime focus of the piece should be on skill development and career success tailored to each committee’s substantive area or affinity group. By focusing committee content in this way, the Section will create value for current members, attract new members, and stand out from the vast sea of legal content targeting lawyers.
BALANCED PERSPECTIVES
The committee should strive to present a balanced perspective on controversial issues. This can be accomplished by interviewing and quoting persons who hold opposite perspectives in a single article, by acknowledging opinions from other jurisdictions that reach a different conclusion, or by offering two articles simultaneously that present point and counterpoint on a topic. If editorial staff concludes that an item is improperly one-sided, the item will not be released for publication until the CMC has worked with the committee issuing the article to make appropriate revisions.
YOUNG OR DIVERSE LAWYER AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONTENT
At least once per quarter, each committee should publish a new article or Practice Point that either targets young or diverse lawyers or is aimed at business development. The title or other marker should clearly indicate that the item relates to one of these topics.
INTERVIEWS/PROFILES
Interviews must have a substantive focus. Member profiles are not permitted.
DISCUSSION BOARDS
Committees are encouraged to use ABA Communities for discussion boards. A link to ABA Communities is found on each committee’s homepage.
ADVERTISING OR PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION
The Section will not publish advertising or promotional information other than Litigation Section or ABA promotions, unless approved in advance and in writing by the CMC, and unless the article has a substantive focus. Committee editors are responsible for requesting such approval.
AUTHOR DIVERSITY AND DISCLOSURES
Committees should encourage and solicit content written by diverse authors to further the Section’s Goal III Requirements on Diversity. Editors should determine whether authors have had personal involvement in cases or proceedings that may be the subject of discussion in their articles and disclose such involvement.
GENDER NEUTRALITY
All content must be written in gender-neutral language.
PUBLICATION AGREEMENTS
Articles and Practice Points may be published only if an ABA publication agreement is signed by the author and contains all necessary information. (See Guidelines for Copyrights.)