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Maryland Bar Journal
Publications : MD
Bar Journal : Editorial Guidelines
MARYLAND BAR JOURNAL STYLE GUIDELINES
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The Maryland Bar Journal is a bimonthly magazine published by the
Maryland State Bar Association for its membership. The MSBA Special
Committee on Editorial Advisory is responsible for the policy and content
of The Journal, and reviews and approves all articles submitted for
publication. Each issue is dedicated to a legal theme.
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- Articles submitted to the Maryland Bar Journal should interest members
of the Maryland Bar, providing them with information or ideas that impact
their practices. The Journal wants articles about legal issues or the notable
activities of other lawyers, business and management practices and, where
appropriate, entertaining articles by or about lawyers.
- All writing submitted to The Journal is subject to the approval of the
Special Committee on Editorial Advisory and will be edited for accuracy,
conciseness, length, English grammar and usage, and conformity to the Guidelines.
If, in the judgement of the Special Committee, significant editing is required
that may affect the substance of an article, the author will be consulted
before publication.
- The Journal seeks original works and will not ordinarily consider publishing
an article that has appeared elsewhere. Material published in The Journal
may thereafter be reprinted with the Special Committee's approval and appropriate
credit.
- Articles must be typed, double-spaced, on standard 8 1/2" by 11"
paper and submitted to the editor for presentation to the Special Committee
on Editorial Advisory. The editor is Janet Stidman Eveleth at the Maryland
State Bar Association, 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
She can be reached at (410) 685-7878 or (800) 492-1964 or e-mail at jeveleth@msba.org
- Articles should not exceed 2,500 words (ten double-spaced letter-size pages
unless the editor assigns or agrees in advance to a longer length. The title,
author's name and byline information should appear on the first page. Every
page of the manuscript should bear the author's name. Textual footnotes are
forbidden; authorities worth citing should go in the text. String citations
should be avoided. The Harvard Blue Book citation form is suggested.
- Articles should be emailed, preferably in Word, to the editor at jeveleth@msba.org for presentation to the Special Committee on Editorial Advisory. The editor
is Janet Stidman Eveleth at the Maryland State Bar Association and she can
be reached at (410) 685-7878, x3025, or (800) 492-1964 or jeveleth@msba.org
- Advertising: The Maryland Bar Journal has display advertising opportunities,
please contact Network Publications at (410) 628-0390, extension 122.
Writing and Editing Guidelines for the
Maryland Bar Journal
The Maryland Bar Journal favors a plain style of expository
writing and urges its authors to write as simply and informally as they
can. This does not mean that the publication wants frivolous or cute writing,
but that it strives to publish clear and readable material.
- Have a clear understanding of what you want to say before you start writing
- Write it yourself; don't assign it to a subordinate who must guess at what
someone else wishes to express.
- Try to catch the reader's attention, create interest and make your main
point in the opening sentences.
- Write in plain English. Use short words, strong verbs and simple sentences.
Avoid jargon and foreign phrases.
- Be concrete and specific, not abstract and legalistic.
- Write in the active voice. Avoid the passive voice and the conditional
("I would argue") mood.
- Avoid compound or complex sentences. Break them into smaller bites.
- Don't talk down to readers.
- Avoid the outline form
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