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Submission Guidelines


The Journal of Law Reform seeks to improve the law and its administration by providing a forum for discussion that:

  • Identifies contemporary issues for reform efforts,
  • Proposes concrete means to accomplish change, and
  • Evaluates the impact of law reform.

In short, the Journal prefers a submission that not only describes an area of the law that warrants reform, but prescribes a means of accomplishing that reform. The Journal also welcomes multidisciplinary and empirical work as contributions to this discussion.

Types of Submissions

The Journal encourages the submission of unsolicited manuscripts for publication. While the Journal primarily looks for unsolicited articles written by law professors, judges, practitioners, and academics from other disciplines, it also welcomes submissions of unsolicited manuscripts from law students and recent law school graduates whose pieces stem from their academic work as law students. However, the Journal only accepts unsolicited student writing on a limited basis and will do so when such work is deemed to be of exceptional quality. The Journal classifies the work of students and nonprofessional recent graduates as signed "notes," rather than "articles," and accords the student author's full biographical information.

Submission Requirements

Each manuscript should be typed, double-spaced and generally conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed. 2005) and The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed. 2003). Each manuscript should be accompanied by a cover letter giving a brief overview of the manuscript and providing author contact information including name, e-mail address, phone number, and mailing address. Enclosing a résumé, a list of previous publications, and/or a vita with the submission, while not necessary, can also be helpful for the Journal's reviewers.

Method of Submission

Electronic Submissions

The Journal strongly encourages electronic submission of manuscripts. If an author is uncomfortable with sending manuscripts electronically or does not have the technological facilities to do so, the author can opt to mail the manuscripts to the Journal. Electronic submissions are preferable since e-mail allows the Journal to process and distribute the manuscripts more efficiently and quickly. A manuscript (accompanied by a cover letter and any other supporting documents) should be in any version of Microsoft Word. It can be sent as an e-mail attachment by clicking one of the following links:

  • To Submit an Article:
    Submit an Article Electronically
    Please write in the subject line: "Article Submission: [Title of Article]"

     
  • To Submit a Student Note:
    Submit a Note Electronically
    Please write in the subject line: "Note Submission: [Title of Note]"
     

    Once the Journal receives the submission, an e-mail acknowledgment letter will be sent to the author. If an author does not receive acknowledgment e-mail within a few days, the author should contact the Journal at (734) 763-6100.

    Postal Submissions

    If an author prefers or is only able to submit a manuscript via U.S. Mail, two (2) copies of the manuscript and any supporting documents can be mailed to:

    University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform
    University of Michigan Law School
    Attn: Article Editors (if an article) or Attn: Executive Note Editor (if a student note)
    625 S. State Street
    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1215

    Once the Journal receives the submission, an e-mail or typewritten acknowledgment letter will be sent to the author. If an author does not receive an acknowledgment after a week and a half, the author should contact the Journal at (734) 763-6100. Mailed articles cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed postage-paid envelope.

    Deadlines

    The Journal does not have strict deadlines per se and accepts submissions on an ongoing basis until a particular issue is deemed "filled" by the Editorial Board.

    Expedited Reviews

    The Journal's review process normally takes up to a few weeks from the time an article is received to the time a decision is made. However, if an author would like an expedited review, the Journal will try to accommodate the request if the following steps are followed:

    1. E-mail the Journal at jlr-submissions@umich.edu or call the Journal (734) 763-2195 to place an expedite request.
    2. In making the request, please provide the following information: author's name, title of the article, the names of the other journals that have extended offers, and the dates by which those journals need a response. Additionally, please provide an e-mail address and/or phone number where you can most easily be reached.
    3. The Journal will make every effort to respond, either by phone and/or by e-mail. Authors who are extended an offer to publish with the Journal after requesting an expedited review are requested to respond with 48 hours from the time an offer is made.

    Withdrawals

    If an author decides to publish a submission with another journal or otherwise wishes to withdraw the submission from the Journal's consideration, the Journal would appreciate notice of the withdrawal either by phone at (734) 763-2195 or by email at jlr-submissions@umich.edu.

    Benefits

    By publishing with the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, you publish with a unique journal that

    • is approaching its 40th year of publication,
    • is found in most law libraries as well as courts and law firms throughout the country,
    • is one of the most cited specialized journals,
    • is available on WESTLAW and LEXIS,
    • has a circulation of about 800 subscribers, and
    • provides authors with 50 complimentary reprints of a manuscript plus a free copy of the Journal.

    General Questions

    General questions about submissions can be asked via e-mail at mjlr@umich.edu or by calling the Journal at (734) 763-2195.

    • The University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform