State Bar of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lawyer Editorial Procedures

The Wisconsin Lawyer provides State Bar of Wisconsin members with information that directly aids and improves their practice and the delivery of legal services to their clients. The magazine publishes articles on changes in the law, explores law-related trends and developments and provides a forum for expressing ideas, concerns and opinions that affect the practice of law in Wisconsin. In addition, the magazine includes human-interest articles about how lawyers practice law or profiles about lawyers who are interesting beyond the practice of law.

How-to, practical articles of general appeal are preferred over theoretical articles. Articles discussing developments in Wisconsin law are preferred over articles focusing on federal law.

The Role of the Editorial Board and Communications Director

The content of the Wisconsin Lawyer is determined by the communications director, who serves as the magazine editor, in consultation with the Communications Committee, which serves as the Wisconsin Lawyer Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board is composed of 12 Wisconsin-licensed lawyers with varied practice, geographic and publishing backgrounds. Substantive law articles are submitted to the Editorial Board and an appropriate section member for review. Articles are reviewed for timeliness, usefulness to readers, scholarly analysis, accuracy and readability. Reviewers shall consider the following criteria when reviewing manuscripts:

• Will the information help Wisconsin lawyers in the practice of law?
• Is the topic timely? Will it be of broad interest to State Bar of Wisconsin members? Or, is it more appropriate for a special-interest publication, such as a section newsletter?
• Is the subject matter new, not already covered in the Wisconsin Lawyer within the last 12 months?
• Does the author have the necessary expertise to write about the subject?
• Is the article of appropriate length?
• Does the author present ideas in a balanced manner, rather than presenting one side of the issue? If not, is an opposing viewpoint appropriate?
• Is the article easy to understand? Does it avoid legalese? Does the author assume a level of understanding that may not be shared by the majority of readers?
• Does the article offer more than what you can find reading the statutes? Does it include helpful analysis? Pertinent citations of authority? Examples or hypothetical situations to enhance understanding?
• Is the article self-promoting, including commercial services, products or organizations?Is the writing gender neutral?

Periodically, the Editorial Board and communications director review readership and general membership surveys and demographics to determine whether the publication is meeting the needs of its readers. In that review, the Editorial Board will consider whether various sections of the publication are meeting their intended goal. The Editorial Board and the communications director frequently discuss ideas for editorial content and direction, and ways to encourage quality submissions from readers.

The communications director decides whether to publish an article based on the input from the Editorial Board and other appropriate reviewers. When in doubt about the publication of an article or other material, the communications director seeks the advice of the Editorial Board or its chair. Routine columns, such as the president's page, letters to the editor, news briefs, discipline, personal mentions, profiles, book reviews, writing tips, and office management, generally are not distributed to the Editorial Board in advance of publication, unless the editorial staff is concerned about the content or quality of articles.

The communications director will use her discretion in determining what material to share with staff, the executive director, and/or appropriate State Bar representatives in advance of publication so that they are aware of the publication of such material. Generally, the communications director will share with staff material that relates to their area of responsibility. The executive director will receive letters or other material that comments on an association-related policy or issue.

The communications director makes a publication decision based on her professional judgment, input from the editorial board, goals of the association, and her knowledge of reader preferences gathered through reader input. The goal is to publish a cost-effective publication that meets the needs of readers and is attractive to advertisers.

Publication Appeal Process

Publication decisions can be appealed to the Editorial Board. Any requests for appeal from State Bar members, staff and officers should be put in writing and sent to the communications director or Editorial Board. The Editorial Board's decision may be appealed to the Board of Governors.

Communications Committee