Slaking a thirst for all things legal

Move over, John Grisham.

A free monthly legal news magazine aimed at the general public debuts today in Greater Boston, capitalizing on a widespread fascination with lawyers that has fueled an explosion of books, movies, and television shows chronicling the lives of attorneys.

Written by lawyers for a non-lawyer audience, Exhibit A will provide practical legal advice on everyday dilemmas, such as what to say to a police officer who has pulled you over, and will cover general issues about the law that range from the mundane to the quirky.

And, at a time when mainstream media are facing unprecedented financial challenges, the magazine's owners hope to share the success of other niche publications.

The first issue's run of 35,000 newsprint copies will be available from hawkers at subway and commuter rail stations, in newspapers boxes, and at about 600 retail locations, such as restaurants and coffee shops. Initially, the magazine's geographic reach will be limited, but it eventually may expand statewide.

"The public's thirst for all things legal seems to have no end," said David L. Yas, publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, a trade publication, which is launching the new magazine.

"People are going to pick this up because they are intrigued by the law or have legitimate issues with the law, or because they're court junkies who follow cases both real and fictional."

Exhibit A aims to deliver information that is "relevant, interesting, and useful," Yas said. It will do so in part by drawing from real-life legal dramas that have supplied fodder for popular TV shows such as "Ally McBeal and "Boston Legal," and that have turned writer-lawyers like Grisham and Scott Turow into best-selling authors.

The 24-page debut issue includes a profile of a public defender, a question-and-answer interview with former Superior Court Chief Justice Suzanne V. DelVecchio, a story on the legality of scalping Red Sox tickets, and informational articles by local attorneys on what employees can do about bullying bosses and the legal basics of buying a home.

The cover story is on the state's 10 most notorious criminals, including James "Whitey" Bulger, Louise Woodward, Willie Horton, and Paul Shanley, as compiled by a panel of local legal personalities.

Another article surveys Boston-area lawyers on their favorite legal movies. "The Verdict," "To Kill a Mockingbird," and "Twelve Angry Men" took first, second, and third places, respectively.

The launch of Exhibit A comes at a time of painful contraction for mainstream print media. Many general-interest newspapers and magazines face bleak economic conditions as online competitors siphon away readers and advertisers. But publications focusing on specialized readerships occupy a rare bright spot in an otherwise grim print-media landscape.

"Niche publications are the area where you have information that an audience feels it must have," said Stephen Burgard, director of the Northeastern University School of Journalism. "If you can position yourself there, you're in a different arena from everybody else trying to get people to pay for content on a mass basis."

Exhibit A is the third companion publication launched by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, which is owned by Minneapolis-based Dolan Media Co.; the magazine follows In-House, aimed at corporate counsel, and Medical Law Report, which covers legal issues specific to doctors and healthcare providers.

"We are a believer that niche publications are strengthening just as mainstream papers face some challenges," said Yas, "and this is certainly an example of that."

Dolan owns publications that target the business and legal communities in 17 cities nationwide, and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly is the first Dolan-owned newspaper to spin off a general-audience niche magazine, Yas said.

Exhibit A will rely on advertising for income, and is expected to appeal to the insurance, retail, and travel industries, as well as to companies that want to reach commuting professionals, Yas said. Advertisers in the debut issue are primarily lawyers and law firms.

The magazine's editor is Henriette Campagne, who is also editor of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Content for the magazine will be written by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's existing editorial staff, as well as by freelancers and practicing attorneys.

Boston lawyer David W. White-Lief, for example, contributed a story on when lawsuits can be filed over a construction accident, and his firm took out a full-page advertisement.

"For us, this is an experiment," said White-Lief, noting that his firm, Breakstone, White-Lief & Gluck, spends little on advertising and generally relies on referrals from other attorneys for business.

"I think their distribution is one that has some promise; as I understand it, they're looking to get passengers on the MBTA who are on their way home and have time to absorb what's in the newspaper," he said. "We hope to reach a quality clientele."

Sacha Pfeiffer can be reached at pfeiffer@globe.com.