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How to Write a Law Review Article?

Jun 8, 2022 | 0 comments

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Jun 8, 2022 | Blog | 0 comments

While writing a law review article has many similarities to writing a regular academic article, there are some differences that you should be aware of before writing one. Most law review articles will be similar to an academic journal article with added legal analysis.

What Is a Law Review Article?

A law review article is an academic research paper published in a law journal. Law students usually write law review articles, but many academics also publish them. Law review articles are generally more scholarly than other types of legal writing and should be written in a formal style.

How to Write a Law Review Article

You need to take many steps when writing a law review article. You have to have the right attitude, approach, time, and dedication to write it.

Law review articles are usually longer than most other types of legal writing, so they require more effort on your part. To get started on the right foot, you must know what’s expected from you by your professor (and why).

Step 1: Decide upon a relevant research question. 

The first step in writing an academic paper is to decide upon a relevant research question. The research question should be specific and narrow enough to be answered within the space of an article. It should also be broad enough to be interesting to readers and provide enough material for your analysis.

What are some considerations regarding this choice?

  • Ensure that it’s important: there are no right or wrong questions; however, some questions may not be as relevant or useful as others. Your professor will help you determine whether or not your topic is worth pursuing. You can always ask, “what if?” but bear in mind that this will increase the chances of reaching an unsatisfactory conclusion due to insufficient data collection or analysis capabilities on your part!

Step 2: Make a list of all of your headings and subheadings.

Once you’ve completed your outline, make a list of all the headings and subheadings in your outline. Don’t worry about how many headings or subheadings you have; just include them in this list. You’ll be surprised at how easy writing is when starting with an organized framework!

The next step is to sort your list by length—longest at the top and shortest at the bottom. This will give you an idea of how many pages each chapter will take up (and, therefore, how long your article will be).

Step 3: Create the Basic Framework.

The next step is to create the basic framework of your article, which will constitute the skeleton of your work. This should be a list of headings and subheadings that form an outline. The headings and subheadings should be in a logical order, for example, introduction, background, main arguments (1st point), responses to objections or criticisms (2nd point), and conclusion.

Step 4: Fill Out the Outline. 

Now that you have your first draft, it’s time to fill out your outline. The law review editors will ask for an outline to be completed with each submission, so be sure to include all of the relevant information. If you want more details on outlining, check out our post on how to write an effective outline.

In addition to filling out the sections of your paper and eliminating any unnecessary words or phrases, make sure that you include only relevant information in your paper. This will help make sure that readers can follow along easily and learn what they need to know about your subject matter without having too much distraction from irrelevant data points or tangents (which are often best left as footnotes).

Step 5: Review and Modify.

Finally, it’s time to review and modify your article. Go through each paragraph and make sure it is clear and concise. Make sure you have used the most appropriate words to express yourself. You have not written unnecessary sentences or paragraphs that do not add anything to your argument. You should also ensure that your use of grammar is correct—that there are no grammatical errors in the text or at least none that cannot be corrected with a quick proofread (there are too many websites out there containing tips on how to fix these).

Finally, look at the article: does it represent a good representative sample of your work? If not, try revising some sections for better flow or clarity before submitting it for publication!

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A Deeper Look: How to Research for a Law Review Article

The research process is crucial to writing a law review article. It’s time you will spend identifying, selecting, and organizing the materials you need to write your essay. Each stage of this process is equally important; if done well, it can help you produce a high-quality paper that is well-researched and thorough.

How do I find research materials?

The best way to find research material is by talking to people who have written law review articles before and asking them where they obtained their information. You could also look at other published articles on your topic or even books on the same subject matter (this would be particularly useful if yours were an original topic).

  • Google Scholar is a great place to start. Type in “[legal topic] article” and see what comes up. You can also use keywords like “mechanism of [legal issue]” or “status quo of [issue].” Some professors may ask for specific sources; if so, read those first!
  • Once you find the article(s) that seem relevant, don’t just skim them—read them carefully and think about what they say. What do they mean? How does their argument stand up against other arguments on this topic? Does it make sense given the current state of law? Are there any particularly compelling or intriguing points—or not compelling/intriguing at all? Do they agree with any other resources on the subject (for example, cases)? If so, why or why not? Be sure to explain your reasoning as much as possible, along with any conclusions reached by reading these materials–this will help readers understand where each piece fits into your larger argument about legal reform and help them follow along as well!

How to Format a Law Review Article

When writing a law review article, it is important to understand that readers will expect you to follow certain rules. There are many different authors and articles, but the format should be consistent. When writing your article, certain things need to be kept in mind so that it can be easily read by other people who will not have any idea what you were thinking when writing it. Here are some tips that may help:

1. General Formatting

  • General Formatting is the most important part of your paper. It is the first impression you make on your reader. The formatting will tell them whether or not you know how to write a law review article and whether or not they want to read more of it! Ensure that everything looks neat and professional, so they feel confident in continuing through your work.
  • Each section in an article must be numbered clearly with numbers in Roman numerals (i., ii., iii., etc.). The title should also be numbered separately from chapters/sections (i., ii.)
  • If possible, no page should have more than a quarter of the page empty.
  • The pages should be 8.5 x 11 inches.
  • Use a single column with justified margins.
  • Use high-resolution images encoded as PostScript (eps) if figures are provided.
  • Copyediting should be done.
  • 10 pt. Times or equivalent font for footnotesText—Times New Roman 12 pt. or equivalent font

2. Line Spacing and Indenting

In your first paragraph, you must indent the first line. This is true for every paragraph in a law review article and should be done no matter what kind of font or font size you use.

To ensure that this formatting is consistent throughout your document, change all of your text to single-spacing before typing in your first draft. This will also ensure that each line of text is left-justified (meaning it goes across from left to right).

3. Footnotes

Footnotes are used to provide additional information that is not essential to the discussion of the main text. You should use them sparingly if they add value to your argument or enhance your understanding of a concept. You should never use footnotes to restate something that has already been said in the main text—they should always serve as an extension of it.

You can also use footnotes for citations, which can be helpful when you need to refer back to previous sources for readers to understand how you came up with certain claims or conclusions. Finally, footnotes can be a great way for authors who have provided direct quotations from other works (such as case law) to credit those sources properly by including them at the bottom of each page where they appear within their writing

4. Tables and Graphs

As a rule of thumb: if you’re not sure whether or not to include a table or graph, then don’t. You should only include tables and graphs in law review articles if necessary to illustrate your points.

For example, it might be helpful to include a table that lists the various factors to consider when determining whether an entity qualifies as a legal person under US law.

However, consider removing some of these if your article is already very long and includes numerous tables and graphs (for example, one every other page) so that each can stand on its own merits instead of being part of an overwhelming barrage of information.

5. Mathematics

you cannot explain some mathematical formulas in the text. If this is the case, it’s best to use tables for long formulas. The table should contain only the formula and not any explanatory text.

In-text references to tables should be as follows: “Table 1 shows….” In reference to a figure (graph or picture), use “Figure 1” instead of “Figures 1” as you would with a table. For example: “Figure 2 illustrates….”

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Creating the Roadmap of a Law Review

The roadmap is the most important part of your law review article. You can refer to it throughout the writing process, and it will be invaluable in helping you stay on track. As you’re writing, think about how your piece connects to previous articles and its place within broader conversations in legal scholarship. Here are some tips for creating an effective roadmap:

1. Start Big and Narrow It Down.

The first step to writing a law review article is to start with a broad topic. This can be an issue or a way of looking at it. For example, you could write about the current state of gender equality in business or how sexual harassment laws are enforced in the workplace. You could also narrow your focus to one particular period or place, like how women were treated in 1960s America versus today’s society.

Once you’ve decided on your main topic or question, go through each word and ask yourself if there’s anything more specific than what you’ve already written down. If so, add these new ideas as sub-topics under your main topic heading (for example, “businesses,” “workplace,” etc.). Then repeat this process until there aren’t any more sub-topics left for further detail

2. Number the Components

To help you keep track of the different components of your draft while still moving things along, it may be helpful to number and name each section. For example, if you were outlining your introduction, you might write “Introduction: 1. Introduction” at the top of the page. You can do this with other sections as well—for example, “Conclusion: 4 Conclusion” or “Discussion: 3 Discussion.”

This method also makes it easier for readers to navigate your document by saying, “Hey, this is what section 2 looks like!” This will make writing more efficient because it allows you to focus on just one part at a time without getting lost in a sea of headings.

3. Explain the Terms of Success. 

As you begin to write, it is important to clarify the standard of review that a court will use in evaluating your sub-issue. This means explaining how they will test each part of the legislation. The following are the essential needs for the reference page: so that readers know exactly what is required to succeed. It’s also helpful to provide examples from past cases where this standard has been applied in similar contexts.

To succeed on my sub-issue, should I meet all three conditions? Or just two? Or just one?

4. Include Additional Info and a Table of Contents. 

Before submitting your manuscript, include a table of contents, a summary of the main points, a list of citations, references, and tables and figures. You’ll also want to include an appendix with any additional information you have collected as part of your research.

How to Create a Reference List for a Law Research Paper

A reference list lists all the sources you consulted for your law research paper. It’s a bibliography, but it focuses on books and articles instead of just books.

For example, if you’re writing about legal documents, you might use sources like:

  • The Constitution
  • State Supreme Court decisions (like Roe v Wade)

You’ll need to make sure that every source you cite in your paper is included in your reference list. There are two types of references used by law journals: parenthetical citations and full citations (or footnotes). Parenthetical citations usually appear within parentheses next to the sentence they apply; full citations usually come as footnotes or endnotes in each paragraph (though some journals prefer footnotes).

The following are the essential needs for the reference page:

  1. The reference page should list all of the resources utilized in work. If one of the items in the list is missing, the paper may be considered plagiarized.
  2. It’s important to pay attention to proper formattings, such as spacing and indentation.
  3. The authors’ last names should be alphabetical on the reference page.
  4. You should prepare each reference using the style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). You should not blend the features of the styles.

Putting together the Final Draft

  • Double-space or single space the entire text of your article and use 12-point font sizes, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
  • Include a table of contents and an alphabetical list at the end that includes all citations for each section (for example, “1. Introduction” and then “Bibliography”). This will help readers locate specific sections easily if they get lost through the paper.
  • Use proper citation format throughout your article, including footnotes (or endnotes), bibliographies, and author-date citations in the text according to your style guide (MLA, APA, or Chicago/Turabian).
  • Make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors before submitting it for review by fellow students who are experts in English language writing skills; asking friends who have good knowledge about law review articles may also be helpful because these people will be able to understand easily about how to write one since they have experience in this field already.

Add Other Necessary Parts

You can find the abstract, headings and subheadings, table of contents, and the reference list in the last few pages of your journal. The bibliography should be placed at the end of your article. You can also add an appendix if you feel it necessary to support an argument or add more depth to a discussion point. A glossary is another way to make your article user-friendly for people unfamiliar with legal terms or concepts that you might discuss in your paper.

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Example of Law Review Article 

The following are examples of law review articles as presented by Harvard Law Review:

Other Legal Writing: How to Write a Law Review Note

Law review notes are a shorter version of law review articles. They resemble the full-length law review article in that they provide an in-depth analysis of a legal issue and include citations to relevant case law and legal scholarship. Still, they do not require the same level of research as an article. Law review notes are 2,000 and 4,000 words long and focus on one specific topic.

Note: Law reviews occasionally publish “suggested reading” lists at the end of an article (and sometimes even within it). These lists may include books, articles, or other materials that explain how the author came to their conclusions about what happened in court cases or legislative debates on specific issues.

Below are steps on how to write a law review note:

1. Introduction of a law review note

An introduction is the first paragraph of your law review note and should be short and concise. The introduction should capture the reader’s attention by being interesting, engaging, and clear.

The main purpose of a law review note is to present a new idea or concept for discussion or debate. You should also include information about how you developed this idea or concept so that readers know how it fits into current legal issues and how it could impact future legal decisions.

In addition to capturing their interest with an effective beginning paragraph, you must also provide some background information on the topic so that readers can understand where your argument fits with other ideas in this area of study or practice

2. Part I

You need to start by briefly introducing the issue and explaining it. If you write a law review article on a specific subject, your introduction will be short.

If you are writing about a broad topic with many facets, you’ll need to describe the issue. You should explain how others have approached this problem in previous studies and what they found out. You should also mention any major problems with those studies (e.g., data collection methods were not very reliable).

Your explanation of the issue must be clear and accessible for readers without background knowledge in this study area or practice. A good way to do this is by using examples from real-life situations so people can relate their own experiences or observations with yours when reading through your work later on (see example below). A great way to ensure clarity is by using charts/graphs/tables whenever possible because these visual aids help readers understand complex concepts more easily than paragraphs alone ever could!

You must also make sure that everything written within any given paragraph flows logically from one sentence/idea onto another without leaving gaps between them. Otherwise, it might confuse someone trying to read through quickly without being able to stop every paragraph at least once before continuing onward again – which defeats the purpose entirely since nobody wants distraction while studying anyway!

3. Part II

In Part II, you will provide an overview of the important cases and statutes discussed in your Note. This section should contain the bulk of your analysis of where the law stands. You should also include citations to relevant cases and statutes throughout this section. It is not necessary to provide a comprehensive list of every case or statute decided on a particular issue; rather, focus on those cases/statutes that are significant for your discussion.

You may wish to organize this section according to the topic (e.g., summarize relevant case law and identify relevant statutes). However, note that not all notes will necessarily organize their material in this way. Some notes have opted for a chronological approach instead (i.e., first discussing recent developments in case law before turning their attention toward a more historical context).

4. Part III

Part III is the most important part of your article. This section will present your analyses and viewpoints. The content you have included in Part II has laid down a foundation for you to build upon. You may also use this section to compare and contrast different opinions on the subject matter or simply provide an overview of what other scholars have said before coming up with your ideas.

5. Conclusion

After you’ve made the most of the time you have, it’s time to conclude. Your conclusion should summarize your main points and make a final statement. This can be done by reiterating the importance of the topic at hand, clarifying the main idea or concept that you’ve been discussing throughout your article, providing a final thought on said concept/topic (e.g., if it needs reform), and providing a call to action (e.g., what readers should do next). If you have references available for future reading or further study, they should be included here.

What Else to Keep in Mind While Writing a Law Note

  • Law notes are shorter. They are more focused on the facts of the case and legal analysis than a law review article. They are generally around 5-10 pages in length. The result is that law notes have less room to explore various issues than law review articles, which have more space to discuss various topics related to their subject matter.
  • Law notes are less formal than law review articles because they do not appear in any particular volume or issue number. The style and format for writing them can vary from journal to journal, depending upon its editorial policies. Still, generally speaking, you will want your work papers organized well with proper citations for each source used within your text and bibliographic information at the end of each note (if applicable).

1. Endnotes

Endnotes cite sources, add information to the text, and provide additional information. They can also be used as a reference for quotes or statistics. The endnotes should follow the Bluebook’s 19th edition. Make sure your Bluebooking is up to date!

For instance: “According to Smith v. Jones (1921), all dogs in New York City must wear a leash.” The endnote says, “Smith v. Jones, 71 N.Y.S.2d 575 (1948).” That means another court case referenced this one and provided additional context.* In-law reviews, endnotes are usually numbered consecutively throughout an article, so it is easier for readers to follow along with them if they decide to read them separately from the main article after reading through it once first.*

2. Prepare yourself

  • Make sure you have the necessary skills to write a law review article.
  • Get familiar with the style guide for your law review.
  • Be prepared to write for a long time (weekends, evenings) because editing is an essential part of writing an article and should not be rushed through because it requires time to ensure that your work is as good as it can be before submitting it.
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More Legal Writing: How to Write a Law Review Comment

A law review comment is a short article (2-4 pages) that comments on an existing law review article. Law review comments allow readers to see how other scholars have analyzed or responded to the same legal issues differently.

A good law review comment should:

  • Be concise, clear, and thorough analysis of its subject matter
  • Add something new and original to the literature on its subject matter

1. Learn Which Cases Produce the Best Comments 

Before you begin writing your article, it’s important to know what makes an excellent law review article. The following is a list of criteria that we use when selecting articles for our journal:

  • We look for work that analyzes a case in a novel way.
  • We like it when the author uses historical context to make or break her argument.
  • We like it when the author discusses how this case relates to other cases (and maybe even other areas of law).

2. Consider Whether the Court Was Correct. 

As you read the case, consider whether the court was correct. If it was wrong, you should say so. If it was right, you should explain why. If you answer that the court did something “correctly,” that’s entirely appropriate, too—many people think this is what law review articles are supposed to do.

When explaining why the court got it right or wrong (or could have done better), use examples from other cases or statutes as evidence to support your point of view.

3. Check to See if Your Comment Has Been Preempted. 

If you’re trying to write a comment on a case, you should be aware that another article may have already preempted the topic. Preemption occurs when a new case is decided to address all or part of the same issue as an earlier decision and make the previous ruling obsolete or no longer controlling. Preemption can also occur if a comment written on an earlier opinion has become so accepted in the field that it becomes binding law itself.

So here are three ways to check if your comment has been preempted:

  • Check for other articles about the same case; see if any of those articles cite your article as a persuasive authority (or even as binding authority). If so, then this means that whatever issues your article discusses have already been covered by another writer’s work—and thus are not ripe for additional commentary from you!
  • Check for cases from higher courts addressing similar issues raised in both yours and theirs; see if any of those cases cite other articles addressing similar issues as supporting precedent over yours (or vice versa). If so, then this means that whatever issues were raised in both yours and theirs have already been settled by higher courts—and thus are not ripe for additional commentary from anybody!
  • Check whether there are already comments written about an earlier opinion that address all or part of what was discussed yours. See how much overlap between these two sets of comments regarding which parts were addressed while leaving others untouched (i.e., what hasn’t received sufficient attention). Before deciding whether it makes sense for you, still, try writing something else on top of what’s already there.”

Final Thoughts

Congratulations! You’ve just accomplished a huge milestone in your career. Now that you’re done take a minute to celebrate and be proud of your accomplishment. Write down what you learned about writing law review articles along the way so that you can share it with others who also want to write for law reviews.

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Get Help from our Experts with your Paper

Our experts are available 24/7, so if you have any questions, you can always send us an email. Our experts have a law degree and a Ph.D. in law, making them the perfect people to help you with your paper. As well as having the academic skills, they also have experience writing law papers themselves: some of them even write law notes! If you want someone who knows what they’re doing when writing legal documents, look no further than us!

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