TRIAL
Guidelines for
Manuscript Preparation

Writing Style

Manuscripts should be brief and to the point. The emphasis should be on the practical, not the esoteric. As much as possible, writers should--

• Keep sentences and paragraphs short.
• Use familiar words.
• Avoid unnecessary words. Avoid jargon.

Editing

TRIAL aims for readability as well as accuracy. All manuscripts accepted for publication are checked for accuracy and edited for style and clarity. Edited drafts are sent back to authors for their approval.

Length

Generally, manuscripts should range from 10 to 12 double-spaced typed pages, including endnotes.

Endnotes

Endnotes should be kept to a minimum — most TRIAL articles have around 20 endnotes. They should be compiled on a separate page or pages, not at the bottom of each page of text. Double-space endnotes. Most legal references should follow the ALWD Citation Manual (Third Edition), Association of Legal Writing Directors, including using authors' first names. Information about this legal style and how it differs slightly from the Bluebook Uniform System of Citation can be found at www.alwd.org. The main exception is that TRIAL cites only to the West reporters. Do not include parallel citations to state reporters.

Biographical Sketch

Please submit a brief biographical sketch, including name, occupation, firm, city, and state.

E-mail Submissions

Authors may submit articles via e-mail to trial@justice.org or to the e-mail address of a TRIAL editor.

Computer Disks

If submitting a hard copy, include computer disks with your submission. Disks should be 3 ½ inches in diameter. Please note the title of the file and the name and version number of the software used on the disk's label.

Submissions to Other Publications

Please do not submit any manuscript that is under consideration by another publication.

Policy for Authors

Authors must be free from pending disciplinary action in which the public finding of probable cause, or other similar finding, has been made. Articles by authors who have been disciplined will not be selected for publication except for good cause.

TRIAL Online

A manuscript accepted for publication in TRIAL will appear not only in print but also in the digital edition of the magazine and on justice.org, the association's Web site.