What You're Up Against
You’re tackling a moving target. Writing a law review note takes patience—your work may not see print for a full year after submission.
Originality matters, but so does timing. Skip topics already flooded with student notes. Instead, chase areas where the law is still forming—where fresh angles can actually change the conversation. A solid note follows a simple three-act structure: first, set the stage; next, build your argument; finally, propose a real solution tied to real law and policy.
Expect to invest 250–500 hours in research and writing. Block it out early. (Honestly, this is the part most students underestimate.)
How do I pick a topic that won’t get rejected?
Target evolving legal areas with gaps in the conversation—think regulatory gray zones or emerging case law.
Start by scanning recent court decisions, bills in Congress, and new agency rules from 2025–2026. Use Westlaw or Lexis+ to spot trends. Now, here’s the key: avoid topics already covered by a dozen student notes in the past two years. You want space to add something new.
Double-check novelty using HeinOnline’s Law Journal Library and SSRN. If you find five or more recent notes on the same issue, pivot. You’re looking for the quiet corners of the law where your perspective can actually matter.
What’s the best way to run a preemption check?
Use a two-step process: first, run a formal checklist; second, scan recent student notes.
Begin with GW Law Library’s preemption checklist. It walks you through every box to tick. Then, head to the BC Law Journals Directory and search for “student notes” published in the last 24 months.
Filter by subject and date. Exclude anything marked “published.” If you spot a recent note on your topic, dig deeper—has the law changed since it was written? If not, you may need a sharper angle.
How deep should my research go?
Pull primary sources first, then layer in secondary analysis and empirical data.
Start with statutes, regulations, and agency guidance from govinfo.gov. These are your building blocks. Next, add context: law review articles, practitioner treatises, and empirical studies. Don’t just skim abstracts—read the footnotes. They often lead to the most interesting sources.
Use Boolean operators in Westlaw Edge to refine your search. Try something like “cannabis legalization” AND (federal OR state) AND (banking OR taxation). The goal? Find sources no one else is citing yet.
What structure should my note follow?
Break it into three parts: background, analysis, and recommendation.
Part I sets the stage. Explain the problem, the current legal landscape, and why it matters. Part II is where you make your case. Build your argument step by step, using cases, statutes, and policy analysis. Part III delivers the payoff: a concrete recommendation grounded in law and policy.
Use active voice and present tense throughout. Passive constructions slow readers down—and editors notice. (Georgetown’s legal writing guidelines spell this out clearly.)
How do I avoid citation errors?
Use Bluebook 21st ed. (2024), run automated checks, and manually verify every citation.
Start with The Bluebook Online. It’s the gold standard. Then, run your draft through LibKey Nomad and Grammarly Plagiarism Checker. These tools catch formatting slips and unattributed text.
Finally, hit Ctrl+Shift+F to search for quotation marks. Every borrowed phrase needs a citation. Miss one, and reviewers will flag it instantly.
What formatting do most journals expect?
Stick to 12 pt Times New Roman, double-spaced text, 1-inch margins, and a clean title page.
Most journals in 2025–2026 follow the same basic rules. Set your margins to 1 inch. Use 12-point Times New Roman. Double-space everything—no exceptions. Your title page should include your name, school, and contact info.
Don’t get creative with fonts or spacing. Journals see hundreds of submissions. They want consistency. (And honestly, this makes their job easier.)
When and how should I submit?
Submit during peak windows—August to November or January to April—via Scholastica or ExpressO.
Timing matters. Most journals open submission windows twice a year. Target those slots. Use Scholastica or ExpressO to upload your note. These platforms handle formatting checks and distribution automatically.
Double-check each journal’s guidelines before you hit send. Some want footnotes in the text; others prefer endnotes. Small details trip up even the best submissions.
My note got rejected. Now what?
Refine your angle, target shorter venues, or enter a writing competition.
First, ask for feedback. Most journals will give a reason for rejection. Use it. If the issue is scope, narrow your focus to a single unresolved circuit split or a state-level experiment—like post-2025 psychedelic therapy laws in Oregon and Colorado.
Consider law review comment sections or blogs like iPleaders. They publish shorter pieces (1,500–3,000 words) on timely issues. Or revise your note for the ABA’s 2026 Law Student Writing Competition. Deadlines usually fall in early spring.
How can I stay out of trouble with my topic?
Avoid oversaturated topics, verify citations meticulously, and submit during peak windows.
| Tip | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Topic Selection | Avoid topics with more than five notes in the past 24 months; prefer regulatory gray areas. | GW Law Journals |
| Citation Accuracy | Use Bluebook 21st ed. (2024) and run a citation check via Bluebook Online. | The Bluebook |
| Submission Timing | Submit during peak windows (Aug–Nov or Jan–Apr) using Scholastica or ExpressO. | ABA Legal Education |
| Formatting | Use 12 pt Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, no footnotes in headings. | UIowa Law Library |
Start using Zotero from day one. It builds your bibliography automatically and keeps sources organized. Block 2–3 hours daily during research season. That habit alone prevents last-minute citation panics—and trust me, you don’t want to be fixing Bluebook errors at 2 a.m.
