Article, Case Note, and Book Review Guidelines
NAELA JOURNAL ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
NAELA Journal publishes substantive articles that discuss significant elder law and special needs planning topics. The NAELA Journal Editorial Board invites the submission of manuscripts year-round with the following guidelines:
- For initial approval of publication, you may submit a one- to two-page outline of the intended manuscript and a list of sources. Alternatively, you may submit your final paper for consideration.
- Articles should include a one-paragraph abstract that summarizes the article's key points, conclusions, and recommendations.
- NAELA Journal policy is to give priority of consideration to original work not previously published. If the proposed work has been previously published, or something very similar, please provide a copy, and explain why the NAELA Journal Editorial Board should consider re-publishing your work.
- Please conform text to The Associated Press Stylebook and citations to ALWD Citation Manual. See citation tip sheet in right column.
- A table of contents will be generated from the main and sub headings in your article, so it is not required to submit a table of contents, but the heading levels should be clearly identified.
- Please include a cover letter containing the title of your article, your professional affiliation or school, address, telephone, e-mail address, and a short biography with reference to recently published material.
- Most articles are between 4,000 and 10,000 words including the footnotes.
- NAELA Journal Editorial Board members review all submissions for appropriateness, and they provide direction to potential authors. Author(s) will be notified by the NAELA Journal Editor if the outline/article submitted is acceptable or not, or if changes should be made for further consideration of the article for publication. Submission does not guarantee publication. NAELA Journal reserves the right to reject any article submitted for publication whether solicited or not.
- NAELA Journal articles accepted for publication will be assigned to a NAELA Journal editor who will work with the author or authors making any necessary changes to prepare the article for publication. Articles will be edited for clarity and will be edited to fit the publication’s editorial style and length requirements. In addition, all first-person references and references to the author’s organization, products, or clients may be deleted at the editor’s sole discretion.
- Authors should provide a brief biographical statement for publication with the article.
- Each author will be required to sign a standard author's agreement that acknowledges the material submitted is authentic, and grants NAELA the proper permissions to publish such article. The agreement, however, does not change copyright, which is maintained by the author or authors.
Transmittal
Materials should be emailed as a .docx file to Susan Simolunas, NAELA Publisher at [email protected].
Response
The editorial board responds to each submission after it has been evaluated. Decisions for inclusion in each issue begin at least nine months before publication. Please note that even where a proposal or Book Review has been accepted, the editorial board must reserve the right to decline publication as necessary.
NAELA JOURNAL CASE NOTE SUBMISSIONS
The NAELA Journal Editorial Board encourages Case Note submissions from NAELA members and nonmembers with the following guidelines:
- A significant state or federal case that is of importance or interest to attorneys practicing elder and/or special needs law.
- That will not be appealed further, either because it was decided by the highest appellate court or, simply, because the appeal period has ended.
- That clarifies an issue or, in exceptional cases, muddles an issue that was thought to be eternally resolved.
- Reference made not only to the state law it follows, but also variations in other jurisdictions.
- Analytically proving why the case is significant, e.g., why following it might change our practices or our clients’ rights.
- Analytically showing how the court might have decided differently, but what factors drew it to its actual decision.
- Most case notes are 4,000 words or less.
Transmittal
Case Notes should be emailed as a .docx file to Susan Simolunas, NAELA Publications.
Length
Case Notes are generally 2,000-4,000 words.
Description of Yourself
Please provide the following information about each author:
- A list of recent submissions to NAELA Journal, if any.
- A list of the author's publications in the last five years, if any.
- Any special knowledge, expertise, or connection to the book, its author, or its subject matter.
- Resume or CV (optional).
Response
The editorial board responds to each submission after it has been evaluated. Decisions for inclusion in each issue begin at least nine months before publication. Please note that even where a proposal or Book Review has been accepted, the editorial board must reserve the right to decline publication as necessary.
NAELA JOURNAL BOOK REVIEW SUBMISSIONS
The NAELA Journal Editorial Board encourages Book Review submissions with respect to topics generally relating to seniors, people with disabilities, health care and health law, legal matters pertaining to seniors and people with disabilities, biographies of notable figures in those fields, and works of general interest touching on those fields.
Book Review proposals should be emailed to Susan Simolunas, NAELA Publications. The editorial board requires that at least an outline and the first and last paragraphs of the full review be submitted with a proposal.
Length
Reviews should be at least 1,000 and at most 5,000 words in length; however the editorial board may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis, particularly if multiple books are reviewed in the same piece.
Identification of Book
Please identify the book or books you propose to review by providing the following information:
- Author(s)
- Full title
- ISBN #
- Publisher
- Publication date
Description of the Book Review
Please describe your review by providing the following information:
- Brief summary of subject matter -- a very short "elevator pitch" as to the relevance of the book.
- Outline of the major points of your review (optional).
- The anticipated audience who would benefit from reading your review and the book.
- If you are submitting a proposal, or if your review is incomplete, the date when we can expect a full draft.
Description of Yourself
Please provide the following information about each author:
- A list of recent submissions to NAELA Journal, if any.
- A list of the author's publications in the last five years, if any.
- Any special knowledge, expertise, or connection to the book, its author, or its subject matter.
- Resume or CV (optional).
Transmittal
Materials should be emailed as a .docx file to Susan Simolunas, NAELA Publications.
Response
The editorial board responds to each submission after it has been evaluated. Decisions for inclusion in each issue begin at least nine months before publication. Please note that even where a proposal or Book Review has been accepted, the editorial board must reserve the right to decline publication as necessary.
JOIN AN ELITE TEAM OF ELDER AND SPECIAL NEEDS LAW EXPERTS
NAELA Journal is looking for experts with a diversity of opinion in the areas of elder law and special needs planning to join the NAELA Journal Editorial Board to peer review and edit articles for NAELA Journal.
NAELA Journal is a peer-reviewed, scholarly publication of substantive articles on Elder and Special Needs Law topics published twice a year by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
The NAELA Journal Editorial Board verifies that all articles published in the Journal represent thoughtful and pertinent scholarship for NAELA members.
The role of a NAELA Journal Editorial Board editor is to help select among submissions and to work with authors to identify areas of serious concern in their article and assist the author in making substantive and editorial improvements to submissions prior to publication. Editors are asked to either submit articles and/or identify authors and possible articles for submission.
If you are interested in taking part in this important publication, please send your résumé to Susan Simolunas, NAELA Publisher.
Please include the following information:
- Education
- Professional background
- Prior experience editing publications/law reviews
- Specific experience and how many years in each specialty (e.g. Government Benefits for Long-Term Care, Nursing Home Regulation/Litigation, Elder Abuse, Medicare Secondary Payor Act, V.A. Benefits, Special Needs and Pooled Trusts, Guardianship, Special Education Advocacy, Etc.).