Opinion (Point/Counterpoint) Articles

The Colorado Lawyer considers for publication opinion (point/counterpoint) articles written by lawyers on topics of interest to CBA members and to the legal profession that espouse a position or opinion on a law-related matter. These articles can be articulate and forceful expressions of ideas, without personal animosity or rancor. The articles will address and debate issues that are substantially related to the law, the practice of law, or to lawyers—not matters of general interest. Opinions should be respectful to all sides of the debate and to those who take opposing positions in the debate.

Members wishing to publish point/counterpoint articles will submit the draft manuscripts jointly to the coordinating editor* in the appropriate area of law. The point article and the counterpoint article will be separately authored, with each author arguing for a significantly different conclusion.

Although it is preferred that point/counterpoint articles be published in the same issue of The Colorado Lawyer, rebuttal (counterpoint) articles will be considered, where appropriate, for separate publication. Such articles generally will be published in the same area of law where the original article published; however, placement will be determined on a case-by-case basis. References and citations to the original article should be clearly stated.

Opinion articles must conform to guidelines that apply to all legal articles. The Colorado Lawyer editors reserve the right to edit content for length, style, substance, and grammatical correctness. Where questions about suitability arise and are not resolved among authors, coordinating editors, and staff editors, articles may be presented to members of The Colorado Lawyer Board to review.

Draft manuscripts or topic ideas should be submitted to or discussed with the coordinating editor of the specified area of law and will be subject to the standard review process in advance of scheduling. The Colorado Lawyer managing editor should be apprised in advance of submission and scheduling of all opinion (point/counterpoint) articles.

*A list of coordinating editors is published in every issue of The Colorado Lawyer. In the Table of Contents, see “Also in This Issue,” then “Coordinating Editors for Substantive Law Articles.”