Submissions
The editors ofBoston University Law Reviewwill update this page once we begin accepting submissions again for our future issues during early spring of the school calendar year.Published seven times a year,Boston University Law Reviewprovides analysis and commentary on all areas of the law. All manuscripts must be submitted via Scholasticahere. Our different Statements, including our Transparency Statement and Data Retention Policy can be viewedhere. Our past issues can be viewedhere.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement:TheBoston University Law Reviewis deeply committed to publishing diverse perspectives and topics that reflect the lived experiences of all people. Diversity is not limited to a list of identities, though we recognize how varied life stories create values and perspectives that are not traditionally amplified in legal scholarship and academia. We spotlight a diverse array of authors and topics in all our books, and our February book is specifically dedicated to topics of race and gender, as well as offering more opportunities for untenured scholars. TheLaw Reviewencourages submissions grounded in issues facing historically marginalized communities and underrepresented identities, particularly by authors who are traditionally underrepresented in legal academia.
We invite authors to consider how their scholarship impacts and intersects with disenfranchised communities and identities. Authors may include a short statement in their cover letter summarizing how their unique identities shape their article’s contribution to the field. This statement is not required, and theBoston University Law Reviewis sensitive to the pressures on underrepresented scholars to perform their trauma. We would like to get to know you, your experiences, your ideas, and your values in a way that is comfortable and authentic to you.
Transparency Statement:As part of theBoston University Law Review’s commitment to expanding access to legal scholarship for first-generation professionals and scholars, we share this statement to shed light on how our Articles Selection Committee reviews and selects articles for publication.
Through Scholastica, our Senior Articles Editor, Articles Editors, and Managing Editors review the thousands of articles submitted toBoston University Law Revieweach year. If an article is found to be of exceptional quality, it is elevated to Board Review, which includes our Diversity & Inclusion Editors, Senior Managing Editor, and Editor-in-Chief. After lengthy review and discussion by the entire Articles Selection Committee, the Committee votes on whether to extend an offer.
Our Committee finds the strongest articles to be novel, clearly written, well cited, highly likely to generate further discussion and debate, and between approximately 15,000 to 25,000 words, including footnotes. The Committee also considers authors’ backgrounds to ensure theLaw Reviewis representative of the broader community and to elevate otherwise underrepresented voices. All these factors are weighed holistically.
Data Retention Policy:TheBoston University Law Reviewrequires authors of articles containing empirical analysis to submit the data used in that analysis tolawrev@bu.eduwithin 72 hours of submitting the article for publication consideration on Scholastica. If an article is selected for publication and an author elects to publish with us, we will keep the data confidential throughout the editing process and will make the data public on our website at the time of publication of the article. If an article is not selected for publication, we will delete our copy of the data at the conclusion of our article selection period. If you are unable to share your data for whatever reason (e.g., because the data are proprietary), you must emaillawrev@bu.eduwith a detailed explanation of why the data cannot be shared.
Expedited Review Request Instructions:To request an expedited review of a manuscript that you submitted via Scholastica, please use Scholastica to send an expedited review request.
Seven-Day Offer Windows:On April 19, 2011, theBoston University Law Reviewand several peer journals released a joint letter committing to give every author seven days to decide whether to accept an offer of publication. Eliminating “exploding offers” will improve deliberations and the scholarship we publish by giving law journals and authors time to make informed decisions. We invite all other student-edited law journals to join this letter.Download Joint Letter.
TheBoston University Law Review Onlinepublishes submissions of short essays, notes, and comments from law professors, practicing lawyers, judges, and law students. The submission period is currentlyclosedforBoston University Law Review Online.
Online Expedited Review Process: Authors may submit requests for expedited review when another journal has made an offer to publish the submission or a longer variation of it. Requests should include the author’s preferred email address, the name of the publication that has made an offer, and the date by which an answer is needed.
Executive Summary
The Boston University Law Review article discusses the journal's submission process, diversity, equity, and inclusion statement, and transparency statement. The law review is committed to publishing diverse perspectives and topics, and encourages submissions from underrepresented scholars. The article outlines the review process, highlighting the importance of novel, well-written, and well-cited articles that generate discussion and debate. The law review's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in its efforts to amplify underrepresented voices and promote accessibility in legal scholarship.
Key Points
- ▸ Diversity, equity, and inclusion statement
- ▸ Transparency statement
- ▸ Submissions process through Scholastica
- ▸ Commitment to publishing underrepresented scholars
- ▸ Importance of novel and well-written articles
Merits
Commitment to diversity and inclusion
The law review's efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in legal scholarship are commendable, and its commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices is a significant strength.
Transparent review process
The law review's transparency statement provides a clear understanding of the review process, which helps authors understand the criteria for selection and promotes accountability.
Demerits
Limited submission window
The law review's submission window is limited to early spring, which may restrict the opportunities for authors to submit their work and may not be conducive to timely publication of relevant and pressing topics.
Word count requirement
The law review's word count requirement of 15,000 to 25,000 words may be a barrier for authors who have important contributions to make but may not have the space to fully develop their ideas within the prescribed word limit.
Expert Commentary
The Boston University Law Review's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a significant step forward in promoting accessibility and diversity in legal scholarship. The law review's efforts to amplify underrepresented voices and promote novel and well-written articles can help to address the lack of diversity in the legal academy and promote a more nuanced understanding of the law and its impact on marginalized communities. However, the law review's limited submission window and word count requirement may be barriers to authors who have important contributions to make, and the law review should consider ways to address these limitations and promote greater accessibility and inclusivity.
Recommendations
- ✓ The law review should consider expanding its submission window to allow for more opportunities for authors to submit their work.
- ✓ The law review should consider revising its word count requirement to allow for more flexibility and creativity in article submissions.
- ✓ The law review should continue to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in its review process and publication decisions.
