A law review article is an arduous academic task. They are usually published in legal journals and, frequently, are the result of very extensive legal research and analysis. A law review article should be a well-written piece that presents a new legal argument or interpretation, adds to the sum of legal scholarship essays, and is readable to both legal professionals and scholars. If you want to know how to write a law review article, here is a step-by-step how-to of law review article writing with tips and a sample law review article template.
Step 1: Choose a Compelling Topic
The first and most important step in writing a law review article is picking a topic that will be relevant and make your voice interesting and engaging to others. You should select a topic that takes advantage of a gap in existing legal scholarship or a new angle regarding a current issue. Here are a few guidelines for choosing a topic:
Timeliness
Select a topic related to a specific legal development, emerging trend, or an important current debate in the legal arena. This keeps your article timely and more likely to get people’s attention.
Originality
Your article should hold some kind of news. Examples might include a new argument, a new interpretation of a legal issue, an application of legal principles to a new factual context, or some combination of doubt.
Interest
Then, pick a topic you are passionate about. Given the length of the process, writing a law review article is a process that will require a lengthy, sustained interest in your subject matter to get through the research and writing stage.
Feasibility
Make sure the topic is manageable and within the scope of your article. The topic should be interesting enough so that it’s not just too broad to even think about and narrow enough to allow for detailed analysis.
Step 2: Conduct Thorough Research
Any law review article begins with legal sample research paper. You’ll need to read extensively on your chosen topic, both primary and secondary sources, including:
Case law
Decisions of the country’s highest court are directly relevant to your topic.
Statutes and regulations: Materials that go into shaping the legal landscape around your topic.
Legal Commentary
Including law reviews, journal articles, books, and other scholarly resources that analyse or critique the law.
Legal blogs and news sources
They can keep readers up to speed on issues in the news. As you’re doing your research, make sure you take good notes and keep very detailed sources. When you need to reference your sources and are sure you have the proper references, it will save you time.
Step 3: Formulate a Thesis Statement
One should be able to understand the thesis of the article in a short sentence. It is your main argument or position that your article will back up. Your thesis should be:
Specific
Focus your argument on a single idea that can be covered completely within the article’s length.
Debatable
In your thesis, you should argue a point that others could get themselves into a debate over. A thesis that generates discussion is a good thesis reviews.
Relevant
Make sure that your thesis brings some added value to the legal field and ensures that it falls on a different bandwagon than existing debates.
For example, suppose you’re writing about the impact of AI on privacy laws. In that case, your thesis might be: “These laws do not provide an effective solution for artificial intelligence that processes personal data, so new frameworks are needed to protect data.”
Step 4: Create an Outline
After you’ve done your research and thesis, having a detailed outline will help structure the article and keep your writing organised. Such a law review article will follow a typical logical structure necessary for clarity and persuasion. Below is a basic template:
1. Introduction
Hook: Start with a great introduction that will hook your readers. It could be a question, a shocking statistic about your subject matter or a quick story to illustrate your point.
Thesis Statement: Your main argument needs to be clearly written.
Overview of the Article: Give a brief account of what is to come and what the reader can expect in the article.
2. Background/Context
Pick a legal issue that you discuss. Provide background information required for readers to follow the issue. This may include:
Historical context
Legal principles or doctrines that are central to this course
Legislation and existing state-of-the-art (literature on the subject, recent scholarship or major legal cases that have formed the issue)
3. Legal Analysis
This is where you’ve put most of your work and your ideas in the article. Here you will:
- Breaks down the legal issue into its most important structural components.
- Case law, statutes, regulations, and other relevant legal materials should be analysed.
- Differing opinions about the topic are compared and contrasted.
- Use the legal principles for the specific facts or scenarios you are discussing.
- When applicable, use policy analysis to argue in favour of or against proposed changes to the law.
In this section, you need to maintain a neutral, objective tone while explaining thoroughly both sides of any legal argument. You are expected to show a very profound understanding of the issue and to analyse the complex legal material.
4. Counterarguments
Conclude with a word or two that answers the possible objections there may be to your thesis. Recognising counterarguments really shows that you’ve taken other perspectives into account and supports your overall argument.
Counter-argue these opposing views and offer responses as to why your thesis still stands.
5. Proposed Solution/Conclusion
If your article is proposing changes to the law, this chapter lists your recommendations. Make sure that proposals for legal reforms or new interpretations of the existing law are clear, concise and realistic.
Restate your thesis with your findings in mind.
Step 5: Write the Article
When you have your outline, you are ready to write your law review article. Here are a few tips for drafting:
5. Use Clear and Concise Language
Take care to avoid unnecessary jargon while writing legal work, which can be dense. Your legal professionals seeking to understand the potential effects of entrepreneurs should be able to access your article.
Be Analytical Not Descriptive
A law review article is not just a summary of existing law. You have to examine and criticise the law using your own thinking.
Stay Objective
Your article will take a position but without bias. In sample scholarly article, it is crucial to present all sides fairly and consider opposing viewpoints.
Use Headings and Subheadings.
Break down long sections of text with headings and lead your article’s argument through headings as well.
Step 6: Revise and Edit
After having written your first draft, set it aside for a few days and then take a good long look at it again with fresh eyes. However, one step that writing needs is revising. Here’s what to focus on during revisions:
Structure
Make sure your article has a logical flow from one section to the next.
Clarity
Remove any ambiguous or overly complex sentence. Be sure to argue clearly at all times.
Legal Accuracy
Make sure all the citations and case law information are correct and updated.
Grammar and Style
This is proofread for grammatical errors, typographical mistakes and formatting issues.
Step 7: Cite Your Sources
Citation is important in legal writing. Make sure that you are following the correct citation style for where you are in your jurisdiction, also called the Bluebook or the ALWD Guide to Legal Citation. If you cite any case, statute, or secondary source, you must do it correctly.
Step 8: Submit for Publication
After you’ve made your life adjustments and feel really good about your material, submit it for publication. Submissions are mostly made through an online portal, and you should follow the submission guidelines religiously.
CONCLUSION
To write a legal scholarship article, that is, a law review article, you need to be very knowledgeable about the subject you are treating and also about the standards of effective academic writing in legal scholarship. A carefully researched, well-structured outline and clear, persuasive writing will help you create an article that adds to the field of law. The following steps and tips will help you on your way to writing a strong law review article.
