Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Writer Guidelines
ALA’s two flagship publications, Legal Management and ALA News, are published in
alternating months. Both reflect the Association's goals and objectives to inform and educate readers
about news and trends in legal administration and law firm management. While their editorial approaches
differ, both publish articles according to similar guidelines.
Legal Management: The Journal of the Association of Legal Administrators
Read by more than 20,000 legal administrators and lawyers (principally sole practitioners and managing
partners) in private law firms and corporate and government legal departments, Legal Management is a
bimonthly, international journal covering issues and trends related to the business management of a law practice.
Legal Management also provides practical management education and serves as a vehicle for dialogue
among administrators, managing partners and other legal professionals.
Legal Management circulates to more than 10,000 ALA members as a membership benefit and to
approximately 9,000 qualified non-member legal professionals, including law firm managing partners. Although
most ALA members live and work in the United States, more than 5 percent live and work in Canada and
other countries around the world.
Legal administrators and managing partners have a broad range of management interests and responsibilities.
Legal Management thus features practical articles and more theoretical management information. Each
issue contains articles on a variety of subjects related to running a law firm, including financial management,
strategic planning, technology, marketing and human resources. Review the journal’s 2008 Editorial Calendar. 
ALA News
ALA’s bimonthly member magazine, ALA News, communicates the Association’s accomplishments,
events, goals and objectives to a circulation of more than 10,000 members. Most of this material is
generated in-house; however, one or two features written by external writers may appear in each issue.
These articles generally focus on furthering members’ personal and professional growth and sharing innovative
approaches to the legal management profession.
Rather than submit unsolicited manuscripts, writers are encouraged to submit detailed article queries or pitches and,
if accepted, the editor will work with the writer to develop the required article. ALA also strives to incorporate a variety
of unique voices from Association membership and other legal experts. Article queries and pitches from active ALA
members are given preference.
Before offering a complete feature story or column to ALA for consideration for Legal Management or ALA News,
please submit a brief summary of the proposed subject matter. Such queries should be submitted to:
Editor-in-Chief, Legal Management and ALA News
Association of Legal Administrators
75 Tri-State International
Suite 222
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4435 USA
E-mail
Note: E-mail queries are strongly preferred.
Upon Acceptance
- The editor-in-chief will work with the writer to establish word count, deadline, requirements, specifications
and date of publication.
- Once the article is received, the editor has the right to edit the article for style, clarity and length and to
make final selection on headlines, subheads and graphic treatment.
- Writers may be asked to revise manuscripts or provide additional information for clarification.
- Authors must sign a “Contributor Agreement” that gives the Association a non-exclusive license to reprint
articles in future publications, such as article collections. The Association liberally grants reprint permission to its
authors and members. It also accords reprints to other sources such as vendors and other legal administration
publications. Those requesting reprint permission are encouraged to inform an article’s author first before
contacting ALA.
- An invoice, including a Social Security number for U.S.-based authors, must be submitted to receive payment.
Invoices may be submitted via e-mail in attached Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) documents.
(Additional invoice guidelines are available upon request.)
Manuscript Preparation
- Length: Columns typically run 800 to 1,300 words; features typically run 2,000 to 3500 words, including sidebars.
- Editorial Style: ALA publications generally adhere to The Associated Press Stylebook and Merriam Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary. ALA also has an internal stylebook; a digital copy will be provided for your reference upon request.
Format
- Send the manuscript in Microsoft Word (for Windows or Macintosh) via e-mail to John Delavan.
- A list of sources and contact information should be provided for fact-checking purposes.
- At the end of the article, include a brief author biography listing current position, background and contact information
if needed. Articles submitted on behalf of a client should identify the client and the client's products and services.
Columnists should also provide a color (preferred) or black-and-white head shot (at least 300 dpi, 2" x 3") via e-mail.