What is the difference between a law review and a journal?

Asked by: Roxane Crist  |  Last update: September 13, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (48 votes)

What is law review? Excuse us while we cover the basics: a law journal and a law review are essentially the same thing. The organisations have different names, but whatever they call it, a law review is an academic journal staffed by students of a law school (though it is independent of the law school).

Is law review the same as journal?

Law reviews (or journals; the terms can be used interchangeably) are the legal profession's academic journals. They are the equivalent of medical or psychological journals for those respective fields, with a ranking system that is similar.

What is the difference between a journal article and a review?

In the context of news, reviews are opinions and articles are fact based, though a good reviewer should have some knowledge about the subject rather than whether he likes it or not.

Is Harvard Law Review a journal?

Founded in 1887, the Harvard Law Review is a student-run journal of legal scholarship. The Review is independent from the Harvard Law School and a board of student editors selected through an anonymous annual writing competition make all editorial decisions.

What do you mean by the law review journal?

First, what is law review? Law review is an academic journal that publishes articles by professors and other scholars in a variety of legal practices. It is published by students at most law schools, who are responsible for writing notes (shorter academic articles), editing, and checking citations.

Law Reviews and Journals 101: The Who, What, When, Where, and Why | Law School Real Talk Series

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What is the journal in law?

Law journals, also known as law reviews, are collections of peer-reviewed scholarly articles. Law journals can be general in scope, or focused on a particular area of law or geographical region.

How hard is it to make a law review?

There's a lot of editing that goes into a law review. It is a fairly big time commitment. Schools have moved to a system where there's often some kind of writing competition that typically takes place at the very end of the first year of law school, and people are selected on the basis of their performance.

How prestigious is law review?

Moreover, most law schools have a law review, typically the flagship legal journal of the school. Becoming editor-in-chief of any legal journal is prestigious, and becoming editor-in-chief of a law review is a paramount honor.

Is Westlaw a journal?

Westlaw Journal Intellectual Property keeps corporations, attorneys and individuals updated on the latest developments in IP law. In addition to federal litigation, the journal covers administration decisions by the branches of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and legislative developments.

Are law reviews credible?

In some cases, law reviews that use peer-review may have articles edited by practitioners or legal professionals, but this information is not always clearly provided by the publication. However, law reviews are considered secondary scholarship because the articles are providing analyses and commentary on legal issues.

Do reviews count as publications?

In an academic context, a review counts as a publication in and of itself.

How do you know if a journal article is a review?

You can type the name of the journal into any search engine and learn about the submission process to see if it is peer reviewed. Additionally, if you use the library search or a database to find articles, they will usually indicate if it is from a peer reviewed journal.

How do you know if it's a journal or article?

Journal articles are shorter than books and written about very specific topics. A journal is a collection of articles (like a magazine) that is published regularly throughout the year. Journals present the most recent research, and journal articles are written by experts, for experts.

What is the point of law review?

The primary function of a law review is to publish scholarship in the field of law. Law reviews publish lengthy, comprehensive treatments of subjects (referred to as "articles"), that are generally written by law professors, and to a lesser extent judges, or legal practitioners.

Is it a big deal to be on law review?

Gaining membership of this journal, with its attached prestige, is held in high regard throughout the discipline, from private practice to public interest. Articles are written by legal academics, professors, judges or practicing lawyers, with a dizzying array of experience and expertise.

Can judges write law review articles?

As previously discussed, Canon 4B expressly permits a judge to write about legal and non-legal topics, subject to the requirements of the Code.

Is a journal a law review?

Law journals typically publish legal scholarship around a particular subject, while a law review is a general-subject journal and publishes legal articles of all kinds.

Do lawyers use Westlaw?

Westlaw is an online legal research service and proprietary database for lawyers and legal professionals available in over 60 countries.

What kind of journal is plos one?

PLOS ONE is a peer reviewed scientific journal with a rigorous editorial screening and assessment process made up of several stages.

How hard is it to publish in a law review?

Publishing Law Review Articles

It can be a lengthy and frustrating process because the competition to publish is very stiff, but if you feel that you have a unique piece that adds to the dialogue of the discipline, it may be worth your time to submit your work to other legal publishers.

Why is being a lawyer so prestigious?

Firstly, the field of law provides a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on society by upholding justice and advocating for those in need. Lawyers have the power to shape laws, defend the innocent, and ensure the fair resolution of disputes.

What are the most important law reviews?

  • Harvard Law Review. 114.
  • Columbia Law Review. ...
  • Yale Law Journal. ...
  • California Law Review. ...
  • University of Chicago Law Review. ...
  • Stanford Law Review. ...
  • Boston University Law Review. ...
  • German Law Journal.

Who writes law review articles?

Law review articles may be written by law students and noted authors. Seldom will you cite to a law review article unless there is no primary source on your issue. You may cite to a law review if the author is a highly influential and respected writer on a particular point of law.

Is it worth doing law review?

Refine your legal research & writing skills.

Being part of a law review provides you with the chance to vastly improve your legal research, writing, and editing skills, all while still in law school.

How do you get selected for law review?

No students are invited to join the Law Review based on grades alone. All students must do well on the Write-on to be selected. The Write-on begins on the Monday after the end of spring semester final examinations and ends seven days later on the following Monday.