Solicitors Journal is back

It was with genuine sadness that we learnt of the demise of Solicitors Journal (SJ) last September, after 160 years of publishing.

We’d enjoyed a warm relationship with its editorial team over the years and readers may recall our profile of its deputy editor, John van der Luit-Drummond.

So, you can imagine our delight when we got word at the beginning of October that SJ is coming back!

Naturally we took no time in congratulating them for bringing this legal institution back to life and promptly caught up with editor Jean-Yves Gilg to hear what he has planned.

Q: You said at the time of the closure last year that publishing a weekly magazine was an all-consuming, relentless affair, so are you going for the same format?

A: No. We’re starting off with just a very small team. I will be editor and we are bringing former Lawyer journalist and SJ contributor, Hannah Gannagé-Stewart back as deputy editor. We’re moving to a monthly print schedule, with expanded content and more ‘long-read’ articles. The first issue is due out at the end of January 2019.

Q: What about online?

A: Watch this space is all I can say on that right now.

Q: What areas will you be writing on?

A: It’s important that we distinguish ourselves from others. We’ll cover news but it will be ‘quick bites’ of recent news alongside a deeper analysis of some of the biggest or most interesting stories.

I’m also delighted to report that we’ll have a number of our previous regular contributors back too.

Readers will enjoy a mix of practical features about running a law firm such as technology, compliance, training, ethics and leadership. We’ll also be running practice notes on five disciplines, namely: personal injury, family, private client, litigation and property.

Q: What do you want to hear from firms?

I’m happy to hear from firms about their news as it’s always good to keep abreast of what is happening, but we’re unlikely to cover appointments, new supplier contracts or client wins unless they’re really significant. However, we’re open to ideas either on the practical side of working in the law or running a law firm, new cases or any developments in personal injury, family, private client, litigation and property.

Q: How should they contact you?

Email: [email protected]

 

We wish Jean-Yves well and look forward to reading the first issue and many more after that!