How to Submit to the Journal
The Editorial Board is excited that you are considering submitting your piece to Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute. To submit an article to Legal Writing, please send two electronic versions of the article, both in Microsoft Word format, to the Editor in Chief . One version should be free of any identifying information, such as references to the author’s name or institutional affiliation. Because deleting text or footnotes may change the meaning of the piece, the author(s) can certainly substitute words such as “my school,” “the author,” etc. as appropriate.
Members of the Editorial Board review the articles submitted to the Journal. The process is a “blind” review; the Editorial Board is unaware who wrote the submission. After a report and discussion in which all editors take part, the Board votes on the submission. Articles that receive an affirmative vote of the majority of editors are accepted for publication
When making citation and style decisions for your submission, please consult the most recent edition and printing of the ALWD Citation Manual (Aspen Publishers), and the most recent edition of The Redbook (West).
Authors are typically notified about the Board’s decision within four weeks after submission. Two members of the Editorial Board will work with each author in the publication process; in addition, a team of Assistant Editors works on the technical aspects of the piece.
When an article is accepted for publication, the author should be prepared to supply the editors with copies of all difficult-to-find sources, which we define as materials that cannot be located easily on WestlawNext, LEXIS Advance, Bloomberg Law, the Internet, or in a law library. Examples of materials that authors would need to supply include, but are not limited to, non-legal sources, email messages and other unpublished material, out-of-print material, conference and CLE material, foreign sources, survey results, and interview transcripts or summaries. We look forward to reviewing your submission.
How to Volunteer to Work on the Journal
We welcome your interest in working on the Journal. It’s a great way to learn more about scholarly writing, to stay current with the Legal Writing literature, and to contribute to our community.
Assistant Editors
Job Description:
Assistant Editors work in teams to perform technical edits to articles selected for publication. The technical edits focus on cite-checking and proofreading/editing. Assistant Editors do not serve for a defined term; rather, they are assigned to work on specific articles scheduled for publication. Those who successfully complete an assigned technical edit are listed in the journal masthead as Assistant Editors, and their deans receive a letter from the Editor in Chief acknowledging and thanking them for their service.
How to Apply for an Assistant Editor Position:
In general, openings are announced on the LWI listserv Openings may also be announced at each biennial LWI conference. Applicants are typically asked for a CV and a short statement of interest summarizing their relevant experiences and skills. Applicants must be current members of LWI, and helpful experiences include law review membership during law school; publication of one or more law review articles, books, or shorter works; and service as an editor or reviewer of a scholarly journal.
Editorial Board
Job Description:
The members of the Editorial Board review and evaluate submitted manuscripts and work with other Board members and Assistant Editors in editing manuscripts selected for publication.
How to Apply for a Position on the Editorial Board:
In general, openings on the Editorial Board are announced on the LWI listserv and this website at least three months before each biennial LWI Conference. Candidates are typically asked to submit a statement of interest describing their qualifications for membership, as well as a copy of a current CV. Candidates must be current members of LWI, and past service as an Assistant Editor on the Journal is preferred. Additional helpful experiences include law review membership during law school; publication of one or more law review articles, books, or shorter works; and service as an editor or reviewer of a scholarly journal.