Becoming A Published Author In Law Journals: A Guide

Publishing in law journals is a competitive process, with many authors vying for a limited number of spots. To increase your chances of success, it's important to follow certain best practices and strategies. Firstly, craft a compelling article that is relevant, timely, and offers a novel argument or explores an emerging research area. Decide on your target law journals by considering factors such as their reputation, impact, and scope. Keep track of their opening timelines and submission guidelines, as well as any exclusive submission tracks they may offer. Create a clear submission strategy, including staggering your submissions and customising them for specific journals. Focus on your article's framing, title, abstract, and introduction to ensure they are attention-grabbing and succinctly convey the main points. Check your citations and ensure your article adheres to the journal's formatting and style guidelines. Utilise resources such as Scholastica, Washington & Lee Law School's website, and Social Science Research Network (SSRN) to facilitate submissions and increase your chances of publication.

Choosing a compelling topic

• Relevance and timelinessrelevant to current legal discussions and trends. However, avoid topics that are too time-sensitive, as they may become stale by the time your article is published.
• Connection to the topic: Demonstrate your connection to the topic you're writing about. Be mindful not to speak on behalf of marginalised voices.
• Novelty: If you're discussing a widely covered topic, ensure your article explores an emerging research area or presents a novel argument to contribute something new to the field.
• Emerging research areas: Keep yourself updated with emerging research areas in the legal field. Choosing a topic within these areas can increase the chances of your article being published and well-received.
• Personal experiences: Connect your article to your personal experiences and explain why you are uniquely qualified to write on the chosen topic.
• Article framing and title: Ensure your title, abstract, and introduction are attention-grabbing and succinctly communicate the main point of your article.
• Get to the point: Make all the words in your submission count. Focus on writing a compelling article rather than aiming for a maximum word limit.
• Citations: Check your article citations thoroughly. Law review editors are vigilant about referencing, and incomplete or incorrect citations may reduce your chances of being published.

Selecting the right law reviews to target

• Quality over quantity: While it may be tempting to submit your article to as many law reviews as possible, it's important to focus on quality. Be selective and narrow down your choices to the law reviews that are the best fit for your article and align with your publication goals.
• Aims and scope of your article: Consider whether your article is on a niche topic or a general legal topic. If it's a niche topic, specialty law reviews may be a better fit than general ones.
• Reputation and impact: Research the reputation and impact of the law reviews you're considering. The Washington & Lee Law Journal Rankings can be a good starting point for assessing the prestige and visibility of law reviews.
• Discoverability: Look beyond traditional metrics and consider how accessible and discoverable the law review is. Are they active on social media? Do they have a strong online presence?
• Submission guidelines: Familiarise yourself with the submission guidelines of each law review. Check their author guidelines, aims and scope, formatting requirements, and preferred submission method. Ensure your article meets their technical specifications to avoid automatic rejection.
• Timing: Keep track of law review opening timelines. Peak submission seasons tend to be February through April and August through October, as these months see the most law review openings and decisions. However, many law reviews remain open year-round, so don't be discouraged if you're submitting off-season.
• Exclusive submission tracks: If there's a particular law review you're keen on, check if they offer an exclusive submission track. This option allows you to pre-commit to publishing with them if your article is accepted, but it requires submitting to only that law review during an exclusive timeframe.
• Staggered or bulk submissions: Decide whether you want to stagger your submissions to different law reviews or submit to multiple reviews simultaneously. Staggering submissions allows more time for customisation, while bulk submissions ensure your article reaches multiple reviews early in their selection process.
• Article preferences and publication history: Get to know the article preferences and recent publication history of your target law reviews. Look for opportunities to tailor your submissions, such as connecting your article to the geographic region they focus on or relating your work to previously published pieces.

Timing your submissions

Law journals generally have two main submission windows: the spring submission cycle, typically from February to March or April, and the fall submission cycle, usually in August or from August to October. These peak periods see the most openings, submissions, and decisions from law journals. Submitting during these periods increases the likelihood of your work being reviewed and considered.

However, it is worth noting that not all journals follow this pattern, and some remain open for submissions throughout the year. Therefore, if you have a ready article outside of the peak submission times, there is still an opportunity to get it published. Additionally, some journals may solicit articles for symposia and special issues outside of their regular cycles.

To stay informed about submission timelines, it is advisable to consult individual journal websites and keep track of their opening and closing dates. You can also utilise resources like Scholastica, which provides insights into submission season data and allows you to sort law reviews by category. Additionally, following relevant hashtags on social media platforms and staying connected with law reviews can help you stay updated with their latest updates and initiatives.

When planning your submissions, it is important to create a shortlist of target journals that align with your article's topic and publication goals. Consider factors such as the journal's reputation, impact, and discoverability. You can also refer to resources like the Washington & Lee Law Journal Rankings to gauge the prestige and visibility of different law reviews.

Once you have your shortlist, you can devise a submission strategy. This includes deciding whether to stagger your submissions or make bulk submissions to multiple journals simultaneously. Staggering submissions allows more time for customisation, while bulk submissions ensure your article reaches multiple journals early in their selection processes.

In conclusion, timing your submissions involves understanding the submission cycles, staying updated with journal openings, creating a targeted journal shortlist, and strategising your approach. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of acceptance and successfully navigate the competitive world of law journal publications.

Crafting a clear submission strategy

• Start with a compelling topic: Ensure your article is relevant and timely, but not too time-sensitive. Show your connection to the topic and, if it's a widely covered subject, offer a novel argument to contribute something new to the field.
• Decide on target law reviews: Be selective and narrow down your choices to those law reviews that are the best fit for your article and publication goals. Consider factors such as the scope of your article, the reputation and impact of the law review, and its discoverability. Create a list of 3-5 top-choice law reviews, and then look for alternate options.
• Keep track of opening timelines: Law review submissions usually have two peak periods: February to April (spring submission season) and August to October (fall submission season). Submit during these periods to increase your chances as most law reviews will likely be open and reviewing articles.
• Stagger your submissions: Decide whether to make bulk submissions or stagger them. Staggering may allow more time for customization, while bulk submissions ensure your article reaches the law reviews early in their selection process.
• Customize your submissions: Get to know your target law review's preferences and publication history. Tailor your submissions accordingly, for instance, by connecting your paper to the geographic area the law review focuses on. Send personalized cover letters or emails explaining why your submission suits their journal.
• Focus on framing and title: Ensure your title, abstract, and introduction are attention-grabbing and succinctly communicate the main point of your paper. Emphasize the relevance of your article to current events in your cover letter.
• Get to the point: Make all the words in your submission count. Be concise and direct, focusing on making a compelling argument rather than hitting a maximum word limit.
• Check your citations: Law review editors are particular about referencing. Ensure your legal assertions have complete and correct citations. Check your article for typos, grammatical errors, and formatting issues.
• Stick to submission guidelines: Adhere to each law review's aims, scope, formatting requirements, and preferred submission method. Check for article length requirements, style guidelines, anonymization requirements, and cover letter specifications.
• Use group submission tools: If submitting to multiple law reviews, take advantage of group submission features offered by platforms like Scholastica. These allow you to include anonymized files, send expedite requests, withdraw manuscripts, and accept/decline publication offers in bulk.

Paying attention to formatting

Formatting is a crucial aspect of submitting your article for publication in law journals. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to help you pay attention to formatting and increase your chances of getting published:

• Double or Triple Spacing: Most law journals require double-spaced documents, but some specify triple spacing. Make sure to check the specific requirements of your target journal before submitting.
• Font and Font Size: Use a standard-type font, such as Times New Roman, and a font size of 12 points for the main text. For footnotes, you can use either 12 or 10 points.
• Citation Style: Ensure that your legal assertions have complete and correct citations. Most law reviews expect citations to conform to The Bluebook, so it is essential to familiarise yourself with this style guide.
• Anonymisation: Some law reviews have implemented fully or semi-anonymised article selection processes to prevent implicit biases. Check if your target journal has any anonymisation specifications and format your submission accordingly.
• Length Requirements: Pay close attention to the length requirements of the journal. For example, the Stanford Law Review has a "30,000-word ceiling" and a "preference for 20,000 words or fewer."
• Cover Letter: Include a one-page cover letter with your submission. In the cover letter, briefly discuss how your article is novel and useful, provide a synopsis, explain its uniqueness, and supply relevant background information.
• Formatting for Book or Journal Page: Some published authors and law review editors indicate that articles submitted in book or journal page formatting are acceptable and may even have certain advantages. Professor Volokh's Academic Legal Writing website offers an electronic template for this format.
• Use of Templates: Consider using templates or style guides provided by the journal to ensure your submission adheres to their specific formatting requirements.
• Proofreading: Before submitting, carefully proofread your article for any typos, grammatical errors, or formatting issues. A well-presented article makes a better impression and increases your chances of being published.

Frequently asked questions