Deadlines & Themes for The Bencher
The Bencher magazine is the flagship publication of the American Inns of Court and published regularly throughout the year through a dedicated website. Submissions are welcome and membership is not required to contribute an article. If you are interested in writing, please be sure to review our Editorial Policy and Submission Guidelines. Please contact our editor with any questions.
Feature Article Topics
The following are suggested topics for articles. At this time deadlines are subject to change as we convert to a new publishing format. More topics will be posted soon, but you may also write on a topic of your choosing. Please be sure to reference our current submission guidelines.
Mentoring—January/February 2027
Deadline: October 1, 2026
Mentor/mentee relationships are incredibly valuable, especially in the legal profession. Do you have a positive mentoring experience to share? What are characteristics of a good mentor, a good mentee, and a good mentoring relationship? Are there ethical considerations in mentoring? Do you, your employer, or your Inn have a mentoring program, and, if so, what makes it successful? Are there best practices or lessons learned you can share? In what innovative ways have you approached mentoring relationships?
Appellate Practice—March/April 2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026
Appellate practice focuses on written advocacy, legal interpretation, and procedural correctness rather than discovery and factfinding. What ethical and professional challenges are unique to appellate practice? What unique skills does an excellent appellate attorney need, and how do attorneys obtain those skills? What tips can appellate lawyers and judges offer to make the practice more enjoyable and entice attorneys to overcome the fear of taking on their first appeal? What additional issues does the use of artificial intelligence add in addition to the obvious need to avoid fictitious cites?
Rule of Law: The Law in Everyday Life—May/June 2027
Deadline: February 2027
We read and hear about the rule of law almost every day. But what exactly is the rule of law? Have you encountered misperceptions about the rule of law? What role does the rule of law play in everyday life? How can judges, attorneys, and educators increase understanding and improve appreciation of the rule of law while motivating action toward advancing the rule of law?
Professionalism, Civility, & the Rule of Law—July/August 2027
Deadline: April 1, 2027
Professionalism and civility are not only expected in the legal profession; they make legal practice more enjoyable. The vision of the American Inns of Court is “[a] legal profession and judiciary dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence.” What are some examples of professionalism and civility that you wish others would emulate? How should we react when others in the legal field do not exhibit professionalism and civility? What programs—besides Inns of Court—emphasize the importance of professionalism and civility?
Incorporating New Technology into the Practice of Law—September/October 2027
Deadline: June 1, 2027
Technology continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate. What are the latest technological advancements in the legal profession? How is current technology, including AI, impacting the practice of law? Is technology being incorporated effectively in your legal practice and/or in the courtroom? What are some of the benefits and successes—or pitfalls and disadvantages—of technology in the legal profession today? What are the associated ethical implications?
Lawyers in the Community—November/December 2027
Deadline: August 1, 2027
The profession of law continues to suffer from a poor reputation, with rampant negative stereotypes and an abundance of lawyer jokes. Yet a great number of lawyers admirably serve their communities through countless hours of personal volunteerism and charitable board work, among other contributions. What have you seen lawyers do to better their communities? How can attorneys work to improve their reputation? How can the profession successfully confront negative stereotypes and lawyer jokes?
Advice to Young Lawyers—January/February 2028
Deadline: October 1, 2027
Young attorneys want to succeed and often seek to benefit from the mentorship of more experienced attorneys and judges. What is the best advice you ever received in your legal career, and how did that affect you? What advice do you wish you had as a new law school graduate? What advice have you given young attorneys that enabled them to overcome challenges and succeed in the practice of law? Please share your best advice for young attorneys.
When Ethics and Professionalism Clash—March/April 2028
Deadline: December 1, 2027
The Inns of Court program emphasizes the importance of the ethical and professional practice of law. Although ethics and professionalism are often aligned while engaged in lawyering, they sometimes clash. What situations have you encountered where professionalism had to be sacrificed to comply with ethical rules? How far does the “duty” to your client extend? Are there ways to proactively prevent conduct that may be perceived as unprofessional while ensuring that you comply with your ethical obligations?
Lawyer Wellness—May/June 2028
Deadline: February 1, 2028
Unfortunately, law students, attorneys, and judges juggle multiple issues simultaneously and are often involved in high-stress situations. How do you effectively deal with stress? What programs exist to assist individuals suffering from high stress, depression, and mental health and addiction issues? How can we help them obtain treatment? What ethical issues are involved? Please share your suggestions on how you—and others in the legal profession—can stay well.
Transitions in the Practice of Law—July/August 2028
Deadline: April 1, 2028
Like most professions, the practice of law involves transitions, including but not limited to college student to law student, law student to associate, associate to partner, and partner to retiree. Transition involves change and, too often, associated stress. What challenges do these transitions present? What strategies can be employed to successfully overcome these challenges? How have you approached these transitions, and what advice do you have for others?
Please submit your article by email to Rita Zimmerman. We look forward to having you contribute to The Bencher.