Bad news on the legal-media front: California Lawyer, one of the nation’s preeminent legal magazines for the last 35 years, is shutting down, according to news reports.

10Cover-550x722The magazine is owned by the Daily Journal Corporation, which publishes legal newspapers throughout California, including the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the San Francisco Daily Journal and The Daily Recorder in Sacramento.

Media blogger Jim Romenesko reported last week that all of the magazine’s staff members were terminated Sept. 30, just after the magazine’s October issue went out. According to Remenesko, seven full-time staff members were cut.

The closing was also reported by SFGate. No reason was given.

At one point, the magazine was sent to every lawyer in California through an arrangement with the state bar. I do not know if that was still the case as of its closing.

Over the years, the magazine won many awards for editorial and design excellence, including more than 70 Maggie awards from the Western Publications Association and national honors from the American Society of Business Publication Editors, Folio’s Eddie Awards, and the Society of Publication Designers.

The magazine was known for its willingness to take on controversial topics and for in-depth reporting. Its closing creates a hole in legal journalism that is unlikely to be filled.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.