Writing Guidelines

State Bar publications prefer content that is relevant, timely, clearly written, and useful to readers. Content is reviewed for analysis, accuracy, and writing style. The writing should be clear, active, straightforward, and free of legalese. Avoid self-promotion. Generally, readers relate to stories, so engage them early on – give them a reason to care about your topic.

Follow the following guidelines when approaching your writing project, as editors and peer reviewers will use these as guiding factors in making publishing decisions:

• Relevance: The information should help Wisconsin lawyers in the practice of law by being timely and relevant to a broader audience, many of whom do not practice in that area of law. Section blogs may be more targeted, since the majority of section members will have a working knowledge and experience in that practice area (except for new lawyers).
• Structure: Lead with the most important information. Begin with why the article matters and end with a summary.
• Subheads: Provide descriptive subheads to make it easy to scan and break up text.
• Writing Style: Be clear, straightforward, and free of legalese. Use short paragraphs and sentences. Avoid complex and/or lengthy sentences. Write with active (vs. passive) voice.
• Style Guide: The State Bar follows AP style with some exceptions (State Bar uses Oxford comma, etc.). Knowledge of this style isn’t required by authors; editors will update submissions to follow the style of State Bar publications. Note: There may be limited (non-substantive) changes after final author review to comport with State Bar style guides.
• Be Balanced: Present ideas in a balanced manner, rather than presenting one side of the issue. Consider whether an opposing viewpoint is appropriate.
• Identify Advocacy: If it is an advocacy/opinion piece, identify it as such. The State Bar does not publish articles that advocate for a particular outcome on pending cases.
• Headlines: Suggest a short, descriptive title. Editors may revise for clarity.
• Biography & Headshot Photo: Add a brief bio at the end. Include a JPG or TIF photo, 300 dpi, 3x5 or larger.
• Endnotes: (see below).
• Hyperlink Resources: Provide links to timely, key resources on the Web of value to readers. (If you don’t know how to create hyperlinks, just include the appropriate website URLs in the article. The editor will make the appropriate links.)
• Graphics: Tables, graphs, and other illustrations should be pertinent to understanding the article. Attach these files separately as a 300 dpi, 3" x 5" JPEG. Indicate where you would like these graphics to appear within the article. Avoid web photos due to quality issues.
• Avoid Self-Promotion Including commercial services, products, or organizations.
• Reader Comments After publication, readers may post questions or comments at the end of your article. Login to WisBar.org to read any comments posted by readers. If a reader asks a question for clarification, feel free to respond to the question. In general, responses should be posted within 24 hours. Or, if you prefer, send the response to the editor for posting.

Guidance on Endnotes

• Use endnotes sparingly, if at all (consider using hyperlinks in place of endnotes whenever possible). If you must use endnotes, use citations only and cite to the primary source (not to pinpoints). Place endnotes at the end of the article. Use Arabic numerals as cite signals.
• Follow the standard rules of citation as outlined in The Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed.) and/or the Wisconsin Guide to Citation from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®. If you are unfamiliar with the style, provide a full citation for the editors, who will update your citations to this style.
• Authors are responsible for the accuracy of citations. All citations and references go into endnotes. Links and endnotes are reference only, not to add detail to a point. (Put that detail in the article text, or don’t put it in).
• Include complete citations. Provide citations for each case mentioned. Use the full case name on first reference.
• If there’s a U.S. reporter cite for U.S. Supreme Court cases, use that. Otherwise, use the S. Ct. reporter, not both.
• For Wisconsin cases, use Wis. 2d OR N.W.2d, not both. Include year of decision, i.e., 386 Wis, 2d 665 (Wis. 2014). Remove public cites (2019 WI 46).
• Consolidate endnotes as much as possible (do not cite each sentence – cite the paragraph.)

All statements or expressions of opinion in Wisconsin Lawyer, Inside Track, and other publications are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the State Bar or State Bar editors. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information contained in these publications may become outdated. As a result, lawyers using this material must research original sources of authority. In no event will the authors, the editors, the reviewers, or the publisher be liable for any damages resulting from use of this material. The publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered unless the ad specifically states that there is such endorsement or approval.

The State Bar of Wisconsin gratefully acknowledges volunteer contributions of time and expertise. In an attempt to balance the State Bar's educational mission with the need to protect the rights of its authors, the following policy covers articles and related material submitted for publication.

Authors retain ownership of the copyright to the materials submitted for publication. But in submitting those materials, authors give the State Bar a perpetual, nonexclusive license to use them in the following manner:

1. To edit, print, publish and distribute the article across its publications and social media channels.
2. To adapt or make derivative works of the article, or any portion of it, as part of any product or publication of the State Bar. The State Bar will give the author an opportunity to review the article prior to publication, but the State Bar will make final editorial and administrative decisions.
3. To reproduce, distribute, publish, display, and perform State Bar versions of the article in any medium now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to the internet, social media, or any electronic, magnetic, or optical medium.
4. To authorize third parties to reproduce, distribute or provide access to the State Bar versions of the article.
5. To reproduce the materials and distribute the reproductions in any media in publications and at seminars and other State Bar-sponsored educational programs, as well as to libraries, schools, nonprofit educational organizations, and other similar nonprofit entities in furtherance of the State Bar's educational mission.
6. To allow others to reproduce or reprint the materials in any media and distribute the reproductions in publications and at seminars and other educational programs sponsored by nonprofit organizations.
7. To use the author's name, biographical information, and likeness in connection with the State Bar's use of the materials in any media, including for the purpose of publicity and promotion related to the State Bar's educational mission.
8. To include the materials in compilations published in any media by the State Bar.
9. In all reproductions of the materials, users will be required to include the following attribution language: "[Reprinted OR Republished] with the permission of [name of publication], published by the State Bar of Wisconsin, and [author's name]."
10. Although the State Bar may charge for the reproduction of materials, it will not knowingly allow others to make commercial use of materials without the author's permission.

The State Bar expects authors to respect the proprietary rights of others, just as authors expect their rights to be respected. Accordingly, in submitting materials to the State Bar, authors agree that they are the original and sole author of the materials, except for those portions that are in the public domain, are the works of others for which the author has received permission to use, or are subject to fair use.

Permission is needed for reprints or republication. Republication shall credit in the general form "[Reprinted OR Republished] with the permission of [name and date of publication], published by the State Bar of Wisconsin, and [author's name]."

The State Bar recognizes both the potential benefits, and the risks Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), which “uses deep learning models to create new and original content from large data sets it has been trained on.”

While benefits abound with GAI, its use must be balanced against the need to maintain the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of information, and the rights of authors.

GAI is an evolving technology with many unknowns, including the origin and accuracy of information. Any interaction with GAI should only be done with appropriate user due diligence, including fact-checking.

The State Bar of Wisconsin also recognizes the importance of respecting and protecting the intellectual property rights of both the State Bar and others while using GAI.

For instance, the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials in training GAI or in creating derivative works can infringe on intellectual property rights. Ensuring that GAI usage adheres to property laws is crucial to maintaining the organization's legal and ethical standards.

As such, all contributing authors agree to the following:

• The Author will not present GAI-generated or GAI-assisted content as the author’s own original work.
• The Author will disclose the use of GAI in the production of manuscripts/articles, such as research or other functions other than AI-generated content.
• The Author will disclose the inclusion of AI-generated content in a submitted work and provide a brief explanation of the human author’s contributions to the work. This disclosure should be prominently displayed in the submitted work, indicating what information was generated by a GAI tool, and confirm the author has checked the information for accuracy and integrity. This disclosure will not appear in the published work, if published, but alerts the Editorial Board and/or the State Bar team when making decisions about whether to publish a submitted work, and to double-check for accuracy.

The State Bar of Wisconsin may conduct independent checks to ensure that all work is original and has not been plagiarized or AI-generated content has been used without disclosure.

“Published legal writing” may be eligible for continuing legal education (CLE) credit, up to 15 credits per two-year reporting period. See SCR Chapter 31, CLE Rule 7.06(1) & (2) for what counts as “published legal writing” and what does not. Hint: a post on your law firm’s blog does not count, but substantive articles for Wisconsin Lawyer, Inside Track, or a section or division blog may.

To request CLE credit approval for an article, submit a completed CLE Form 4 and a copy of the published article to the Board of Bar Examiners, 110 E. Main St., Suite 715, Madison, WI 53703- 3328. For further information on CLE credit, contact the BBE at (608) 266-9760, bbe@wicourts.gov, or visit the BBE website​.

As an official publication of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Lawyer™ magazine delivers information and knowledge that helps legal professionals excel in their law practice and help improve the quality of legal services to clients.

Published 11 times per year and with a circulation of nearly 25,000, Wisconsin Lawyer reaches all Wisconsin-licensed lawyers and judges as a benefit of membership, as well as law libraries, law schools, bar associations, and other legal professionals throughout the United States.

The award-winning magazine analyzes legal trends and developments affecting the practice of law in Wisconsin and provides a forum for sharing ideas.

Written primarily by Wisconsin lawyers and peer-reviewed by the State Bar’s 12-member Communications Committee, issues typically include feature articles in substantive practice and sub-practice areas within transactional law, criminal law, regulatory and administrative law, and civil litigation. It also includes a variety of shorter columns on various topics, including but not limited to:

• ethics,
  
• legislation,
• regulation,
• practice management,
• technology,
• lawyer wellness,
• legal marketing,
• legal education,
• legal writing and research,
• legal innovation,
• the business of law,
• risk management,
• emerging practice areas,
• lawyer discipline,
• appeals and supreme court decisions (digests),
• practice tips,
• career advice,
• opinion-editorial,
• viewpoints and profiles.

The State Bar welcome articles that provide practical insights and updates on the law! How-to, practical articles with general appeal are preferred over theoretical articles. Articles discussing developments in Wisconsin law are preferred over articles focusing on federal law.

Feature Articles (typically about 2,500 words): Follow the article submission steps below.

Columns (typically about 500-1500 words): Contact editor Joe Forward​ or managing editor Karlé Lester to discuss a topic.

Book Reviews (typically 300 words, no endnotes.): Contact Karlé Lester for a list of books available for review or to suggest a book for review. Reviews must be related to law but can be practical, scholarly, theoretical, or entertaining. Reviewers must complete a conflict questionnaire before publication. (See additional guidelines for more information.)

Letters to the Editor (500 words or less, no endnotes). The Wisconsin Lawyer Letters to the Editor column provides a forum for members to express ideas, concerns, and opinions on law-related subjects. Letters may be edited for content, length, and clarity. Letters responding to previously published letters and to others' views should address the issues, and not be a personal attack. Letters endorsing political candidates are not accepted, and letters deemed to be defamatory or in poor taste will not be published. Submit by the first of the preceding month to Karlé Lester.

Professional Announcements: State Bar members in good standing can submit announcements about career moves, promotions, awards, or retirements at no cost. Enhance the posting with a photo for $30 (headshots only, no groups). Deadline: Submit by the first of the month preceding the month of publication to MembersOnly@wisbar.org. (See additional guidelines for submitting these announcements.)

Manuscript/Query Letter Review

1. Submit a manuscript or one-page query letter explaining the topic, its relevance to Wisconsin lawyers, and your experience with the issue, managing editor, Karlé Lester. Want to discuss it? Contact editor Joe Forward or Managing editor Karlé Lester.
2. Manuscript Review: The State Bar’s Communications Committee reviews submissions based on their relevance, timeliness, clarity, and usefulness to readers. The committee may suggest revisions before accepting an article. Manuscripts also are reviewed for analysis, accuracy, and writing style. While the board may accept a topic introduced in a query letter, it does not commit to publish an article until it reviews the manuscript.
3. Editing: Prior to publication, articles are edited to conform to Wisconsin Lawyer style.
4. Final Submission and Publication. Email your article as a Microsoft Word file to managing editor, Karlé Lester. After review, authors may review edits before publication.

For questions or submissions, contact:

• Joe Forward, Director of Communications: (608) 250-6161
• Karlé Lester, Managing Editor: (608) 250-6127
• Peter Kraemer, Digital Communications Coordinator: (608) 250-6139

Author Agreement, Awards, and Complimentary Copies

Author Agreement. Before publication, the author must sign an “author agreement” that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the author and the State Bar.

Awards. Outstanding articles may receive the Hon. Charles Dunn Author Award. The recognition is presented to the author(s) during the State Bar's Annual Meeting & Conference.

Complimentary Copies. Authors can request up to 10 complimentary copies of their published issue.

11 Tips for Writing for Wisconsin Lawyer

• Keep it simple. Don't aim for a law review article – that format is for one expert talking to another. Assume that your audience probably has some, but not extensive, knowledge of the topic and wants to be further informed.
• Use examples. If you are citing a case, give enough of the facts so that your point will be illustrated. If you are postulating, give a hypothetical that shows how your theory applies.
• Watch your structure; good grammar counts. Short sentences are better than long, complicated ones. Good organization makes it easier to understand your point.
• Keep your audience in mind. You are writing for other lawyers, not for a client publication.
• Write for a broader legal audience. Highly specialized articles have their place, but it is probably not in a magazine distributed to all members of the State Bar of Wisconsin.
• Be newsworthy. Developing legal topics make for good articles. The use of DNA in criminal cases and death with dignity issues are not only interesting to the general public, but the legal issues involved are worthy of discussion among members of the bar.
• Tell a good story. Human interest pieces have a place in Wisconsin Lawyer.
• Cite authority. An author's opinion of the law, even if the author is very experienced, is not the same thing as appropriate authority. Also, our readers appreciate references to reliable sources for more information on the article topic.
• Don’t write in the first person. Unless you are a judge writing about your experiences on the bench, keep your style objective and don’t make yourself the focus of the article.
• Be fair and balanced. If you are advocating a position, address valid arguments on the other side. The Wisconsin Lawyer has an editorial responsibility to provide balance. If your article is one-sided, we may suggest a sidebar or a companion article to balance the point of view and will label your perspective as an opinion editorial.
• Use charts, illustrations, and tables. Just as organizational techniques may make your point clearer, visual aids work. A picture (or graph) may indeed be worth 1,000 words. A table is often an efficient way of summarizing many detailed legal points.

The State Bar’s InsideTrack e-publication provides Wisconsin attorneys with timely updates on legal developments and insights into the practice of law. It is published every first and third Wednesday of the month and delivered directly to 20,000+ members via email.

InsideTrack offers lawyers another opportunity to showcase their expertise, earn CLE credits for their substantive legal writing, and share timely legal information.

Along with Wisconsin Lawyer, Inside Track is considered an official publication for purposes of providing official notices to members. Inside Track delivers information about State Bar events, programs, products, and services, as well as substantive feature articles on law-related topics.

Because Inside Track is published more frequently than Wisconsin Lawyer, it is a great place for lawyers to publish timely articles on recently developed or developing legal topics and for the State Bar to keep members updated on important information. The publication often featured blog posts written by members of State Bar sections and divisions.

Submission Guidelines

• Feature length: Typically 1,000-1,500 words.
• Topics: Ideas are welcome. Inside Track typically rotates feature articles in the areas and sub areas of transactional law, criminal litigation, civil litigation, and regulatory & administrative law.
• Format: Submit in Word document. Follow the general writing guidelines for style and structure.
• Deadline: Check with editor, Joe Forward by email or by phone at (608) 250-6161.

Have an Article Idea? Contact our editor, Joe Forward by email or by phone at (608) 250-6161.

The primary purpose of section and division blog posts is to educate and inform readers on issues of substantive law and practical concern to lawyers in specific practice areas.

Blogs are intended to distill timely and relevant information in a quick, easy-to-read format and provide a platform for section members to showcase their expertise in substantive legal areas.

Section blog posts are often elevated in other publications and posted on the State Bar’s social media channels to amplify reach and engagement, to showcase the author’s subject matter expertise, and to promote membership in the section or division.

With more than 20 section and division blogs and three active section newsletters, there are writing opportunities to publish important information within your practice areas. The following section and division blogs and newsletters are published by the State Bar of Wisconsin:

Submission Guidelines

• Length: Typically 800-1,500 words.
• Topics: Check with the section or division blog editor. See below on how to contact them.
• Format: Submit in Word document. Follow the general writing guidelines for style and structure.
• Style
• Deadline: Check with the section or division blog or newsletter editor.

Section blogs should generally be written by section members. On occasion, the section blog editor may seek publication of a guest article written by a non-section member or a law student. The section blog editor should ensure that guest blog posts meet the general writing guidelines, including relevance and interest to section members.

• If a section editor proposes publication of an article submitted by a law student, the section editor should encourage collaboration with a practicing attorney in that practice area to review the article and offer suggestions to make the article most relevant.
• Section blog posts should always relate to or tie to the substantive, procedural, or practical aspects of legal practice in that particular area of law. State Bar staff editors may, from time to time, offer suggestions for improving an article.

Have an Article Idea? Contact the blog or newsletter editor to discuss your idea. Editor contact information is located at the end of each published article. Exceptional section and division blogs and newsletter articles are often selected for republication in the State Bar’s Inside Track e-publication or Wisconsin Lawyer magazine, extending the article’s reach to the entire membership. ​​