Perspectives: For and About Women Lawyers is the quarterly magazine of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. One of the goals of Perspectives is to provide new and unique slants on the topics covered, perspectives that women lawyers will not find from other publications and resources. The magazine is distributed to approximately 2,500 readers. Perspectives has a diverse audience: Our readers (1) practice in various settings, including corporate, firm, academic, government, public service, judicial, and solo; (2) span a variety of demographic groups such as age, ethnicity, and economic status; and (3) specialize in a multitude of legal areas. This diversity should be reflected in articles, e.g., through examples given, speakers quoted, or photos solicited.

Style and Editing
Perspectives is not a law journal, so articles shouldn’t be written in an abstract, legalistic way. Authors should use citations only if they are really necessary; write in an active, rather than a passive, voice (e.g., "Congress passed the law" instead of "The law was passed by Congress"); avoid legal jargon; and use anecdotes and/or humor to make points, if appropriate. In general, Perspectives follows the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, and Webster’s 11th edition. Your article will be edited as needed for style, content, and length. Because of deadline pressures, our general policy is to not circulate edited manuscripts or page proofs to authors before publication.

Format and Copyright
Please submit your article in manuscript form and on disk or by e-mail. When an article is accepted for publication, authors are asked to sign and return a copyright release form, transferring copyright to the ABA.

Length and Content
There are several types of articles within each issue of Perspectives. The ABA Publishing editors will specify what type of article they want you to write. If you want to pitch an article idea, please contact the editors.

• Lead articles should be 9-12 typed, double-spaced pages, or around 2,000-2,600 words. The lead article is the longest and meatiest piece in each issue. Consider including graphics depicting statistics, sidebars, and/or photos of people interviewed in the article.
• Feature articles should be 4-6 typed, double-spaced pages, or around 1,000-1,400 words. Feature articles offer an in-depth look at a topic of substance. Consider including graphics depicting statistics, sidebars, and/or photos of people interviewed in the article.
• Voices columns should be 3 typed, double-spaced pages, or around 700 words. Each voices column is written by a well-known or dedicated person with a pet project or a mission; it may be more personal, softer, and lighter than a feature article. Voices columnists are asked to submit a photo with the article.
• Career columns should be 4 typed, double-spaced pages, or around 1,000 words. Practical advice on a fairly narrow topic (a new topic in each issue) is offered to appeal to female lawyers. Career columns can address a range of age groups, practice settings, and/or practice areas.
• Commission columns (formerly the chair’s column) should be 2½ typed, double-spaced pages, or around 550 words. Commission columns are written by a Commission member or liaison and should reflect in some way the work, mission, or goals of the Commission. Each commission column will have a different catchy title. Commission columnists are asked to submit a photo with the column.
  

To submit an article, please contact:
Jane Harper-Alport, 312/988.6046, harperj2@staff.abanet.org