Many law students feel like they need to write a law review article to be a success in the legal field. But what is a law review article? How to write a law review article? A law review article is a piece of writing that critically analyzes and interprets the law. It usually takes the form of an analytical commentary on a case or legislation. To write a successful law review article, you need to be able to research and analyze the law and then communicate your findings clearly and concisely.
What Is A Law Review Article?
A law review article is an academic journal article written by a law professor. Law review articles typically feature a detailed analysis of a particular legal issue, and they are often cited by courts and legislators. While most law review articles are published in traditional print journals, an increasing number are being published online. Whether in print or online, law review articles can be a valuable resource for lawyers and law students seeking to keep up with the latest legal developments.
Types Of Law Review Articles
As anyone who has gone to law school knows, there are different types of law review articles. The most common types are case studies, legislation reviews, and empirical studies.
- Case studies analyze a particular legal case in depth, usually with the help of secondary sources.
- Legislation reviews provide an overview of a particular area of law, often with a focus on how recent changes in the law may affect future cases.
- Empirical studies use data from real-world legal cases to test hypotheses about how the law works in practice.
Each type of article has its strengths and weaknesses, and each serves a different purpose:
- Case studies are best for understanding how the law applies to specific situations
- Legislation reviews provide a broad overview of the law.
- Empirical studies are useful for testing hypotheses and generating new ideas, but they can be less accessible to readers who are not familiar with statistical methods.
How To Choose A Topic For Your Law Review Article?
You need a topic that’s important to you, that you can research and write about without getting burned out, and that will be of interest to the people who read law reviews. Make a list of all the things you’re interested in. Yes, everything. Don’t self-edit yet, just let the ideas flow. Now look at that list and ask yourself which of those topics would make a good law review article.
Here are some questions to help you narrow it down:
- What controversial topics are you passionate about?
- What topics are you knowledgeable about?
- What topics would be helpful to your future career?
- What topics have others already written about extensively?
- What topics have others not written about enough?
- What hot button issues are currently being debated in the courts or among legislators?
- What topics interest you but you don’t know much about yet?
How To Research Your Law Review Article
The best way to research your law review article is to treat it like a blog post. That means you should start by doing a quick Google search to see what other people are saying about the topic. Then, read a few of the articles that come up in your search results. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to start writing your article.
The key is to make sure that you’re providing new information that isn’t already out there. To do that, you’ll need to cite primary sources as much as possible. That means looking for cases, statutes, and regulations that are relevant to your topic. Once you’ve found those sources, it’s time to start writing your article.
Remember: the goal is to provide new insights and perspectives on the law, so don’t be afraid to be creative in your approach.
Writing The Introduction To Your Law Review Article
Assuming you’ve got a paper to write, and that it’s a law review article (a specialized type of paper, usually around 10,000 words), here’s how to start:
- The introduction is perhaps the most important part of your article. It’s where you state your case, make your argument, and try to persuade the reader to care about what you’re saying.
- You need to start with a strong hook that draws the reader in. This could be an interesting statistic, a stirring quote, or something else that grabs attention.
- You need to provide some context for your argument. What’s at stake? Why does this matter?
- You can state your thesis clearly and concisely. What are you trying to prove? How will you do it?
- End with a road map that tells the reader what to expect in the rest of the article. This will help them follow your argument and see how everything fits together.
Writing The Body Of Your Law Review Article
In any discipline, the body of your work is the evidence that supports your claims. In a law review article, the body is where you lay out the case law, statutes, and other support for your arguments. The best way to approach writing the body of your law review article is to start with an outline. This will help you to organize your thoughts and focus on the most important points.
Once you have an outline, it’s time to start writing. Begin by introducing the main point of each section, and then provide the supporting evidence. Be sure to cite all of your sources, so that readers can easily find the original material. With a clear structure and well-supported arguments, you can write a persuasive body for your law review article.
Writing The Conclusion To Your Law Review Article
The conclusion is your last chance to make an impression on the reader. So don’t underestimate its importance. The conclusion should briefly summarize the main points of your article and leave the reader with a strong sense of closure. But be careful not to simply restate your thesis or regurgitate your main arguments.
Instead, try to find a way to end on a high note, perhaps by offering provocative insights or suggesting future directions for research. Whatever you do, make sure your conclusion is memorable and encourages the reader to think critically about the issues you have raised.
Editing And Proofreading Your Law Review Article
If you’re like most people, the first draft of your law review article is going to be pretty rough. That’s okay. The important thing is to get your ideas down on paper (or screen). Once you’ve got a draft, it’s time to start editing and proofreading. The best way to edit your work is to take a break from it for a day or two. This will help you to come back to it with fresh eyes.
Once you’ve had a chance to look at it again, it’s time to start making changes. Cut out any unnecessary words or phrases, and reorganize your ideas into a more logical order. Finally, don’t forget to proofread your work for typos and grammar errors. A little bit of effort at this stage will go a long way towards making your article more readable and polished.
How To Cite Sources In A Law Review Article
Whenever you claim something in your law review article, it’s important to back it up with evidence. Otherwise, your argument will seem weak and unconvincing. The best way to do this is to cite sources that support your position. By including quotes, statistics, and other relevant information from authoritative sources, you can add weight to your argument and make it more persuasive.
However, it’s important to cite your sources correctly. Otherwise, you could be accused of plagiarism. When in doubt, always include a full citation for each source, including the author’s name, the date of publication, and the page number where the relevant information can be found. By taking the time to properly cite your sources, you can give your argument more credibility and make it more convincing.
Formatting A Law Review Article
As any law student knows, writing a law review article can be a daunting task. There are a lot of rules and guidelines to follow, and it can be difficult to know where to start. However, with a little planning and attention to detail, it is possible to format a law review article correctly. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- When creating the title page, be sure to include the author’s name, the title of the article, and the name of the law review. The title page should also include the date of publication.
- When formatting the body of the text, use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial. The text should be double-spaced and have 1-inch margins all around. Be sure to include footnotes or endnotes as needed.
- When creating the bibliography, list all of the sources used in alphabetical order. Include both print and electronic sources. If you used any primary sources, be sure to note this fact.
Submitting A Law Review Article For Publication
The process of submitting an article for publication can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Identify the journals that are the best fit for your article.
- Consider the journal’s audience, focus, and style when making your decision
- Once you’ve identified a few journals that might be a good fit, take a look at the submission guidelines.
- Each journal has different requirements for submissions, so it’s important to make sure your article meets all of the requirements.
- Once your article is ready to submit, most journals will require you to create an account on their website.
- From there, you’ll be able to upload your article and provide additional information about yourself and your article.
- And, once your submission is complete, all that’s left to do is wait for a decision from the journal. The entire process can take several months, so be patient!
Tips For Getting Your Law Review Article Accepted For Publication
The best way to get your law review article accepted for publication is to start by understanding what the editors are looking for. In general, they’re looking for two things: novelty and relevance. But what does that mean? Novelty means that your article should offer something new to the conversation.
It should be based on original research, and it should offer a new perspective on a familiar topic. Relevance means that your article should be of interest to the journal’s readership. It should be timely, and it should address an issue that the journal’s editors believe is important.
What To Do If Your Law Review Article Is Rejected For Publication
You need to understand that being rejected isn’t personal. It doesn’t mean your article wasn’t good enough or that you’re not a good enough writer. It simply means that it didn’t fit with what that particular publication was looking for. If you’re like most people, your natural reaction to rejection is to give up and move on to something else. But if you want to see your article in print, there are a few things you can do.
- Take a close look at the publication’s guidelines and make sure your article meets all of the requirements. If it doesn’t, there’s no point in submitting it.
- Try to figure out why your article was rejected. Was it too long or too short? Was it poorly organized or poorly researched? Once you’ve identified the problem, you can try to fix it and resubmit your article to the same publication or a different one.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from the editors. They may not always give it, but if they do, it can be invaluable in helping you improve your article and increase your chances of being published.
How To Promote Your Law Review Article Once It Is Published
Your law review article is finally published. Now what? Just because your work is available online doesn’t mean people will find it. You need to promote your article if you want it to be read. The good news is that there are several ways to get the word out about your work. Here are a few ideas:
- Share a link to your article on social media, including a brief description of what it’s about.
- Send an email to your colleagues and contacts, letting them know about your article and why they might find it interesting.
- Write a blog post about your article, highlighting key points and providing links for further reading.
- Give talks or presentations on your research topic, and make sure to mention your article as a resource for further information.
Conclusion
The process of submitting a law review article for publication is daunting but not impossible. The key to getting your article accepted is making sure that it is both novel and relevant. If your article is rejected, don’t give up – try to identify the problem and fix it before resubmitting. Finally, be proactive in promoting your published article to increase its readership.
FAQs
What is a law review article?
A law review article is a scholarly article written by a law professor or lawyer that discusses some aspect of the law. Law review articles are usually published in law journals and are often used by lawyers and judges when researching legal issues.
Types of law review articles
There are two main types of law review articles: analytical and doctrinal. Analytical articles focus on discussing and critiquing the law, while doctrinal articles provide a more straightforward explanation of the law.
How to choose a topic for your law review article
When choosing a topic for your law review article, you should consider what area of the law you are interested in and what you hope to accomplish with your article. You should also make sure that your topic is something that you are knowledgeable about and that there is enough existing scholarship on the topic to provide a foundation for your article.
How to research your law review article
Researching a law review article can be a daunting task, but there are a few resources that can be helpful.
You should start with a general search of the law on your topic using online legal research databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis. Once you have found some relevant cases and secondary sources, you can begin to focus your research by looking for more specific materials.
Finally, it is also helpful to consult with a law librarian or other legal experts to get their insights on your topic and the best way to research it.
Writing the introduction to your law review article
The introduction to your law review article should introduce the reader to the topic of your article and explain why the topic is important. The introduction should also provide an overview of the main arguments and points you will be making in the body of your article.
Writing the body of your law review article
The body of your law review article should be divided into sections and subsections that discuss the different aspects of your topic. Each section should begin with a clear and concise statement of the main point you will be discussing in that section. The remainder of the section should provide support for that main point through the use of cases, statutes, secondary sources, and your analysis.
Writing the conclusion to your law review article
The conclusion to your law review article should sum up the main points of your article and provide a final analysis of the topic. The conclusion should also offer some thoughts on the implications of your findings and where future research on the topic might go.
Editing and proofreading your law review article
Once you have finished writing your law review article, it is important to edit and proofread it carefully before submitting it for publication. Editing your article will help to ensure that it is well-written and free of errors, while proofreading will catch any remaining typos or grammatical mistakes.
How to cite sources in a law review article
When citing sources in a law review article, you should follow the citation format required by the law journal in which you are submitting your article. Most law journals use The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, which provides detailed rules for how to cite a wide variety of legal and non-legal sources.
How to submit a law review article for publication
Once you have finished writing and editing your law review article, you will need to submit it to a law journal for publication. The submission process generally involves filling out an online form and attaching your article as a PDF file. You will also likely need to provide a short abstract of your article and a list of potential reviewers.
Marketing your law review article
After your law review article has been published, you should take some time to market it to your potential audience. You can do this by sending out emails or social media postings about your article, giving talks or presentations on your topic, or writing blog posts or articles that summarize your findings.
How to get law review articles published
The process of getting a law review article published can be long and complicated, but there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success.
- You should make sure to choose a topic that is timely and of interest to the law journal’s readership.
- You should take care to write a well-researched and well-written article that is clear and concise.
- You should be prepared to revise your article based on the feedback of the law journal’s editors and reviewers.
Tips for success in writing law review articles
There are a few key things to keep in mind if you want to be successful in writing law review articles.
- Choose a topic that you are passionate about and that is likely to be of interest to the journal’s readership.
- Take the time to write a well-researched and well-written article.
- Be prepared to revise your article based on the feedback of the journal’s editors and reviewers.
Why you should write law review articles
There are many benefits to writing law review articles, including the opportunity to share your research with a wider audience, improve your writing skills, and develop your legal knowledge. Additionally, publishing law review articles can potentially lead to career advancement and increased scholarly recognition.
How to get started writing law review articles
If you’re interested in writing a law review article, the first step is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that is likely to be of interest to the journal’s readership. Once you have chosen a topic, you should begin conducting research and collecting data. Once you have gathered all of the necessary information, you can begin writing your article.
What to keep in mind when writing law review articles
There are a few key things to keep in mind when writing law review articles.
- Choose a topic that you are passionate about and that is likely to be of interest to the journal’s readership.
- Take the time to write a well-researched and well-written article.
- Be prepared to revise your article based on the feedback of the journal’s editors and reviewers.
