Writers Guidelines

Publishing columns in the Daily Journal is an excellent way to argue a point or explain an issue to a broad swath of California lawyers. Our columns are published in the Los Angeles and San Francisco editions and are read by lawyers all over the state, including over 700 chief legal officers of California companies. The Daily Journal strongly recommends writers keep their columns to 1,000 words. Although we will publish columns of up to 1,400 words, we find the longer the piece is, the less it is read. Our readers all busy lawyers and judges with demands on their time want shorter pieces that cover the highlights quickly. This is especially true of in-house readers who say they are looking for key points to make to their chief executive or board of directors. Lawyers who wish to read a more in-depth version of an article can be referred to the writers website or a longer version posted on the newspapers website. Key points a grouping of data or salient facts that cut to the heart of the issue can be set aside and, at our discretion, published as a graphic element with your column. The Daily Journal publishes traditional opinion pieces in which the author takes an affirmative stand on an issue and analysis pieces that dissect a recent ruling, law or regulation. The columns should argue a point or explain the law in a way that would interest a broad spectrum of practitioners, not just a few lawyers in a specialized area. We also publish first-person stories, historical and humor pieces, and book reviews. Those pieces have an absolute maximum length of 1,000 words. Although everyone has their own style of writing, remember that for most of our writers publishing is a tool for business development. The goal is to capture the attention of readers who might want to refer a case or recommend you to a colleague. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions that could increase readership of your column: Capture the readers attention by starting with a catchy sentence or an anecdote; Craft a couple of sentences somewhere between the third and fifth paragraphs that neatly sum up for the reader what you are writing about. Dont make them read to the end of the piece to find out where you are taking them. They wont go with you. However, avoid sentences such as In this piece, I will discuss... Just say it. Use of jargon related to your practice is fine as long as it is coupled with a quick explanation for uninitiated readers; Citations are valuable but they hinder the readability of the piece. Use them sparingly within the body of the article. You can list other relevant cases, which we will publish at the bottom of the piece; Do not use footnotes, id cites, long block quotes or numbered lists, except for proposed graphics; Do not use hyperlinks; Avoid self-laudatory sentences such as My firm has been a leader in this area. Show readers you are an expert. Dont tell them.

Columns are frequently selected for publishing on the front page, which gives the writer maximum visibility. Front-page columns are the editors discretion and the decision is based on readability, timeliness of the subject matter and appeal to the broadest audience.

How to Submit a Column

The Daily Journal receives multiple submissions on all major judicial opinions, laws and regulations. We publish a limited number of columns on each subject and seek to find writers who represent all sides of an issue. We aim to publish lawyers based in California. From time to time, we will publish columns from lawyers based outside the state, mostly those practicing in Washington, D.C. We only accept original content. Do not submit pieces that have run in other publications. However, content that has been published in a blog run by the firm or the writer or in a client alert can be repurposed for publication in the Daily Journal. Lawyers cannot write about a matter in which he or she is directly involved. Our editors understand that our contributing writers spend a lot of time crafting their columns. We edit content for readability and because of liability concerns. All edits are returned to the writer for approval before publication. Our editors, in accordance with standard newspaper practice, write the title or headline of the article. You can suggest a title, but there is no guarantee it will be used, and there is no pre-approval of headlines. Submissions should all include a short one- or two-sentence bio that says where the practitioner works, his or her area of specialty, and the city where he or she is located. Avoid self-aggrandizing descriptions. At our discretion, we publish mug shots of the writers with their pieces. First-time writers should submit a mug shot of themselves for publication that has a resolution of at least 300 dpi. If you dont have one, ask the legal editor about being photographed by a Daily Journal photographer. Anyone interested in submitting an article, or discussing a possible idea, should contact the legal editor, Ben Armistead, by e-mail at Ben_Armistead@dailyjournal.com. Its best to e-mail as soon as you know you want to write about a specific issue. If you have any further questions, please direct them via e-mail to the legal editor.