If our weekly screentime notifications are anything to go by, you’ll know we’re consuming more and more content on our phones, laptops or iPads. Whether we’re in between the courthouse, networking lunches, or the office, it’s no secret lawyers are busy. We want content that is easy to read and right at our fingertips. Content that is thought-provoking and substantive but also keeps us on top of the latest information.
The popular choice for magazines over the last decade is to make the move from print to digital. It’s better for the reader. More interactive and engaging, more videos and more visuals. And let’s not forget the paper that gets saved from not printing!
You can probably tell where this is going. Next year, BarTalk is going fully digital. June was our last printed magazine, and this December is our last flippable PDF. Going forward, you will be able to consume BarTalk in an easy to read, easy to share, blog.
It’s an exciting move for the magazine, if you think about its humble beginnings back in 1989. Back then, BarTalk was the Branch’s sixth attempt at a newsletter, born to keep the membership better informed. Over thirty years and 200 issues later, that objective remains true!
From a monotone printout to a full colour 32-page magazine, BarTalk has gone through many design iterations over the years. This latest change coincides with the fact that three long-term BarTalk contributors all retire within months of each other.
We said goodbye to long-standing columnist David Bilinsky in August. This issue we thank Tony Wilson, KC for entertaining us with his unique and thought-provoking perspectives published in his column, Nothing Official, since 2003. It’s likely we’ll still hear from Tony from time to time, but for now, we wish him a well-earned and vibrant retirement.
Seeing us through this transition before her retirement is editor Deb Carfrae. Steering the ship since 2005, Deb is the person behind the scenes laying out each issue, coordinating volunteers, staff and their articles, making sure we all hit our deadlines.
BarTalk is a way to build your reputation and make your voice heard. If you would like to write an article, share your experience and establish your voice in the legal community, I encourage you contact Deb at bartalk@cbabc.org. Otherwise, we’ll see you online at cbabc.org/BarTalk.