ABA Journal: A History of Legal Journalism
The evolution of the ABA Journal reflects the broader transformation of legal communication in the United States. From its origins as a specialized survey of foreign law to its current status as a digital-first news hub, the publication has served as a primary resource for the American legal community for over a century.
The Early Years: From Bulletin to Journal
The foundation of the publication dates back to 1908 with the creation of the Annual Bulletin. Established by the Comparative Law Bureau of the American Bar Association (ABA)—which operated from 1907 to 1933—the Bulletin was the first comparative law journal in the U.S. Its primary purpose was to survey foreign legislation and legal literature for ABA members.
The Bulletin ran until 1914, at which point it was absorbed into a new venture. In January 1915, the American Bar Association Journal (abbreviated as Am. Bar Assoc. j.) was launched as a quarterly magazine. For the first few years, the second quarter issue of this new journal remained dedicated to the content of the original Bulletin.
As the demand for legal information grew, the publication increased its frequency, transitioning from a quarterly to a monthly format in 1921. This title remained in place for 69 volumes, concluding in December 1983.
Modernization and the "Lawyer's Magazine"
In January 1984, the publication underwent a rebranding to become the ABA Journal (abbreviated as ABA j.). Now subtitled "The Lawyer's Magazine," the publication experimented with its release schedule; while it began as a monthly, it shifted to 15 issues per year in May 1986, before returning to a monthly schedule in June 1999.
By 2007, the print circulation—including both paid and unpaid copies—stood at 375,045, a figure that remained relatively stable from the 381,998 reported in December 1999.
The leadership of the journal has seen several transitions in recent years. Allen Pusey served as executive editor and publisher from 2012 through 2017. He was succeeded by Molly McDonough in February 2018, and John O'Brien assumed the role of editor and publisher in November 2019.
The Digital Transition
The ABA Journal began its digital journey in 1996 with an online complement on the ABA website. Initially, this served as a digital table of contents with a few selected articles. The volume of online content grew steadily from roughly 3 articles per month in 1996 to 30 per month by January 2001.
In 1999, the domain ABAJournal.com was registered, though it initially functioned as a redirect to the main ABA website. A major redesign occurred in January 2002 under editor and publisher Danial J. Kim. This era introduced daily updates to support mobile users and the eReport, a weekly email newsletter. During this period, the archives of the original journal (1915–1983) were made available via the subscription service HeinOnline.
The final major evolution occurred on July 23, 2007, when editor and publisher Edward A. Adams relaunched the site as a "Web 2.0" platform subtitled "Law News Now." This version moved the magazine to its own direct hosting at ABAJournal.com. Today, the site provides breaking legal news, analysis from over 2,000 legal blogs, and a free full-text archive of the magazine dating back to January 2004.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1908 (as the Annual Bulletin); 1915 (as the American Bar Association Journal).
- First Focus: Comparative law and foreign legislation.
- Print Circulation: 375,045 (as of 2007).
- Digital Milestone: Relaunched as "Law News Now" on July 23, 2007.
- Archive Access: Full-text digital archives available from January 2004 onwards.
| Period | Publication Name | Format/Frequency | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1908–1914 | Annual Bulletin | Annual | Comparative law surveys |
| 1915–1983 | American Bar Association Journal | Quarterly (until 1921), then Monthly | General legal scholarship |
| 1984–Present | ABA Journal | Monthly (with variations) | "The Lawyer's Magazine" |
| 2007–Present | ABAJournal.com | Daily Digital Updates | "Law News Now" / Web 2.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the first comparative law journal in the U.S.?
The Annual Bulletin, founded in 1908 by the Comparative Law Bureau of the American Bar Association, was the first comparative law journal in the United States.
When did the ABA Journal become a monthly publication?
The publication became monthly in 1921, after having started as a quarterly magazine in 1915.
How has the publication's name changed over time?
It began as the Annual Bulletin (1908), became the American Bar Association Journal (1915), and was finally renamed the ABA Journal in January 1984.
Where can I find the archives of the early journals?
The collection of the first Journal from 1915 to 1983 is available on the subscription website HeinOnline, while issues from January 2004 onward are available for free on ABAJournal.com.
What is "Law News Now"?
"Law News Now" is the subtitle of the Web 2.0 version of ABAJournal.com, launched in 2007, which features daily breaking news and analysis from thousands of legal blogs.