Writing a law review article is a rigorous but rewarding process, often undertaken by law students, academics, or legal professionals to contribute to legal scholarship. Law review articles are typically published in academic journals and focus on a specific legal issue, offering in-depth analysis, critique, and often novel arguments or solutions. Below is a comprehensive guide to writing a law review article:

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1. Understand the Purpose and Audience

• Purpose: Law review articles aim to advance legal scholarship by analyzing a specific legal issue, critiquing existing laws or policies, or proposing reforms. They are not merely summaries of the law but must offer original insights or arguments.


• Audience: Your primary audience includes legal scholars, practitioners, judges, and law students. Write with a sophisticated understanding of legal concepts and assume familiarity with basic legal principles.

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2. Choose a Topic

• Narrow and Focused: Select a specific legal issue or question rather than a broad topic. For example, instead of writing about "intellectual property," focus on "the impact of AI-generated content on copyright law."


• Originality: Contribute something new to the conversation. Research existing literature to identify gaps or unresolved issues. Avoid topics that have been extensively covered unless you have a fresh perspective.


• Timely or Significant: Choose a topic that is relevant to current legal debates, emerging issues, or unresolved controversies. Topics tied to recent court decisions, legislative changes, or social trends often attract attention.


• Feasibility: Ensure you have access to sufficient primary (cases, statutes, regulations) and secondary (law review articles, books) sources to support your research.

Tip: Review recent law review articles, court rulings, or legal blogs to identify trending or underexplored topics. Discuss your idea with mentors or professors for feedback.

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3. Conduct Thorough Research

Law review articles require extensive research to ground your arguments in authority. Use:

• Primary Sources: Case law, statutes, regulations, constitutions, and treaties. Use legal databases like Westlaw, LexisNexis, or HeinOnline to access these materials.


• Secondary Sources: Law review articles, treatises, books, and policy papers for context and to understand existing scholarship.


• Interdisciplinary Sources: If relevant, include perspectives from economics, sociology, or other fields to enrich your analysis.

Tip: Keep meticulous notes and organize your sources using citation management tools like Zotero or Endnote. Law reviews often require extensive footnotes, so accurate source tracking is essential.

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4. Develop a Strong Thesis or Argument

• A law review article must have a central thesis or argument that ties your analysis together. This is not just a description of the law but a position or solution.


• Examples of a thesis:


• Proposing a new legal standard or framework.


• Critiquing a court decision or statute as ineffective or unjust.


• Identifying a gap in the law and suggesting how to address it.


• Ensure your thesis is:


• Specific: Avoid vague claims.


• Defensible: Back it up with evidence and reasoning.


• Significant: It should matter to the legal community.

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5. Structure Your Article

Law review articles follow a conventional structure, though slight variations exist depending on the journal or topic. A typical structure includes:

a. Title

• Craft a clear, concise, and engaging title that reflects your topic and argument. Avoid obscure or overly clever titles.


• Example: "Reimagining Fair Use: AI-Generated Works and Copyright Law"

b. Abstract (if required)

• Summarize your article in 150–250 words, including the issue, your argument, and key conclusions.


• Some journals require an abstract; check submission guidelines.

c. Introduction

• Hook: Start with a compelling fact, case, or problem to grab attention.


• Context: Briefly outline the legal issue and its significance.


• Thesis: Clearly state your argument or purpose.


• Roadmap: Provide a brief overview of the article’s structure (e.g., "Part I examines…, Part II argues…, etc.").

d. Background (Part I, if applicable)

• Provide necessary context for readers unfamiliar with the topic. This may include:


• Relevant legal doctrines or principles.


• Historical development of the law.


• Key cases, statutes, or regulations.


• Keep this section concise and focused on what’s essential to your argument.

e. Analysis (Parts II, III, etc.)

• This is the heart of your article. Break your argument into logical sections or parts.


• Use subheadings for clarity (e.g., "II.A: The Current State of the Law").


• For each section:


• Present existing law or scholarship.


• Critique or analyze the issue (e.g., inconsistencies, gaps, or inefficiencies).


• Support your points with cases, statutes, and scholarly opinions.


• Engage with counterarguments to strengthen your position.


• If proposing a solution or reform, explain why it is practical and effective.

f. Conclusion

• Summarize your findings and restate your thesis.


• Highlight the broader implications of your argument for the legal field or society.


• (Optional) Suggest areas for future research or unresolved issues.

g. Footnotes

• Law review articles rely heavily on footnotes for citations and substantive commentary. Follow the citation style required by the journal (usually The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation in the U.S.).


• Use footnotes not just for citations but also to address tangential points, counterarguments, or additional context without disrupting the main text.

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6. Adopt the Appropriate Writing Style

• Formal and Precise: Use formal legal language and avoid colloquialisms or overly conversational tone.


• Clear and Concise: Avoid jargon where possible, and ensure complex ideas are explained clearly. Law review articles are often lengthy (8,000–20,000 words), so clarity prevents reader fatigue.


• Objective but Persuasive: While maintaining scholarly objectivity, subtly advocate for your position through logical reasoning and evidence.


• Technical Accuracy: Ensure legal citations, case names, and statutory references are correct. Missteps can undermine your credibility.

Tip: Read published law review articles in top journals (e.g., Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal) to understand tone and style.

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7. Edit and Revise

• Substance: Ensure your argument is logical, well-supported, and addresses counterarguments. Check that each section advances your thesis.


• Clarity: Revise for readability. Break long sentences into shorter ones, and eliminate redundancy.


• Citations: Verify every citation for accuracy and proper Bluebook formatting.


• Proofreading: Eliminate grammatical, typographical, and spelling errors. Law reviews value precision.


• Peer Review: Share drafts with colleagues, professors, or mentors for feedback on content and style.

Tip: Allow time between drafts to approach revisions with fresh eyes.

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8. Adhere to Submission Guidelines

• Target Journal: Choose a law review or journal that aligns with your topic and goals. Consider general law reviews (e.g., Stanford Law Review) or specialty journals (e.g., Journal of Intellectual Property Law).


• Formatting: Follow the journal’s submission guidelines for word count, font, spacing, and citation style. Most require double-spaced text in 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins.


• Footnotes: Ensure footnotes are formatted correctly (often single-spaced).


• Cover Letter: Include a brief cover letter explaining your article’s significance and fit for the journal (if required).


• Blind Review: Most law reviews use a blind review process, so anonymize your manuscript by removing identifying information.

Tip: Use submission platforms like Scholastica or ExpressO to submit to multiple journals simultaneously, as many accept non-exclusive submissions.

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9. Understand the Review and Publication Process

• Selection: Law reviews are highly competitive, often managed by student editors. Articles are selected based on originality, scholarship quality, and writing clarity.


• Editing: If accepted, expect multiple rounds of edits with journal editors. Be open to feedback and revisions.


• Timeline: The process from submission to publication can take months or over a year, depending on the journal.

Tip: Be patient and professional in communications with editors. If rejected, revise based on feedback (if provided) and resubmit elsewhere.

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10. Ethical Considerations

• Plagiarism: Cite all sources meticulously to avoid plagiarism. Law reviews often use software to check for originality.


• Conflict of Interest: Disclose any personal or professional conflicts related to your topic.


• Accuracy: Double-check facts, case holdings, and legal interpretations to avoid misrepresentations.

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Additional Resources

• Style Guides: The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (for U.S. legal writing) or other citation manuals as per jurisdiction.


• Writing Guides: Books like Academic Legal Writing by Eugene Volokh or Legal Writing in Plain English by Bryan A. Garner.


• Sample Articles: Read articles in top law reviews to understand structure and style.

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By following this guide, you can craft a well-researched, compelling law review article that contributes meaningfully to legal scholarship. If you have a specific topic or section in mind, feel free to ask for more tailored advice!