Journal Editorial Advisory Board

The Journal is supported by the Journal Editorial Advisory Board. Board members have a diverse range of backgrounds and interests in the legal profession. They can offer both advice and influence areas that are covered inn the Journal and the content that is published.

 

The role of a Board member is to:

  • Advise on the scope of the publication and website content
  • Give feedback on previous published content
  • Provide insight into the growth and development of the field
  • Review the ideas and development of the publication and website content to reflect this
  • Answer the core question: what matters to members?
  • Identify topic areas for consideration
  • Suggest article ideas and possible authors or interviewees
  • Contribute to the content itself as and when appropriate
  • Review article submissions, as and when required
  • Attract new contributors, interviewees, and submissions
  • Mentor new contributors, if required
  • Play an ambassadorial role in promoting the Journal to colleagues and peers.

 

Remit of the Journal Editorial Advisory Board

The remit of the Journal Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) is to work in collaboration with the editor of the Journal, Law Society staff and the publishing agency to:

  • Develop the overall strategic direction the Journal publication/website
  • Help identify upcoming and current issues
  • Use subject area expertise of the board members to assist identifying contributors and/or to contribute directly.

 

Board processes

  • Meetings to be held every two months
  • Members will send content ideas ten days before meeting. At least one idea per member per meeting
  • Ideas are collated from board members and editorial team into a document shared a week before the meeting, along with agenda and current content plan
  • Shared document forms the basis of board discussions, along with a verbal report from the editor about recent content and top-line statistics related to it
  • Meetings are scheduled for 90 minutes.

 

Composition of the Board

The Board will consist of the Journal Editor, Law Society Staff and external members working in the legal profession. The chair will not be the Journal editor nor a Law Society member of staff. To allow all members to contribute to the meetings, the maximum number of Board members is 15. Ideally, there will be sufficient numbers to provide sector expertise across the profession. The board should:

  • Have experience that reflects the scope of the content.
  • Reflect the diversity and demographics of the membership, including those newly qualified members.

Criteria for external board members

  • Expertise in the field
  • Be passionate about the board, membership of it, and the role on it
  • Ideally have an interest in writing for publication
  • Be advocates for the profession and the Society
  • Adhere to the Society’s Code of Conduct for committee members.
External Board members

Terms for members: three years, with two repeat appointments possible, not including time served as a chairperson. Selection of new members: by a panel of the chair and two other members/relevant member of Society staffs.

Chairperson
  • Can either be a solicitor or non-solicitor.
  • Term - three years, with one repeat appointment possible.
  • Selection: panel of Law Society staff whose decision is approved by the Law Society Board.
Recruitment
  • Open recruitment via usual Law Society channels
  • The Board may co-opt members where they feel that a specific sector, group or geographic region is unrepresented.