Suggested Etiquette Guidelines

The following guidelines are recommended to encourage a climate that promotes both civil and professional dialogue among members of The Missouri Bar:

  1. Include a signature tag on all messages, including your name and location and if relevant, if you have a role in the topic being discussed.

  2. Post your message or documents only in the most appropriate communities. Do not spam several communities or libraries with the same message.

  3. Keep your questions and comments relevant to the focus of the communities.

  4. Include a concise and clear topic in the subject line. This allows others to know easily if the post is of interest and makes it easier to search the archives by subject.

  5. Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that will benefit everyone. Send messages such as “thanks” or “me too” only to individuals and not to the entire list. Do this by using the "Reply to Sender via email" link to the right of every message.

  6. Do not send administrative messages, such as “remove me from this list.” You have control over which messages you receive and how you receive them. Use the web interface to change your settings or to remove yourself from the list. If you are simply changing your email address, you do not need to remove yourself and rejoin, but can simply change your email preference settings.

  7. Keep messages shorter by editing or eliminating quotes. If you need to post a long message, warn other list subscribers either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body with the words “Long Message.”

  8. Be quick to correct an error. If you make a mistake, quickly provide the correct information. If appropriate, modify an earlier post to make it clear that you have corrected an error.

  9. Please be civil, respectful and professional when disagreeing with others. The discussion and comments are meant to stimulate conversation and not to create contention.

  10. Remember that other participants have the right to reproduce postings to this site even if you specify otherwise.

  11. Do not forward jokes, chain letters or other messages not related to the practice of law. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor as in written form it can be easily misinterpreted.