Membership FAQs
What are the benefits of joining Law Review?
Membership on Law Review is a high honor for many law students and is coveted by many legal employers. Students spend innumerable hours doing in-depth and meticulous research and writing — a Member’s legal writing and research skills are strengthened immensely throughout their time on Law Review. Membership fosters collaboration, strengthens work ethic, and cultivates professional and academic discipline.
As a result, many employers prefer to interview students who have participated in Law Review. For more information, see Why You Should Join a Law Review, New England Law | Boston; G.M. Filisko, Law Review: Will It Open Doors for Your Career?, ABA (Mar. 01, 2014).
How can you join Law Review?
Students that have (1) 31 credits (equivalent of completing the first year of law school at full-time hours or completion of two years at part-time hours); and (2) are in the top qualifying percentage of their division are considered eligible and invited to join Law Review.
The exact percentage of students eligible to join Law Review varies from year to year and depends on: (1) the total number of students in each class at the end of the academic year; (2) the estimated size of the Law Review for the coming year; and (3) the current needs and resources available for the Law Review.
All eligible students are notified after spring semester grades are posted.
There is a small percentage of students who will automatically become members by “grading-on” to the Law Review. These students have the highest cumulative GPAs of their respective divisions.
Students not automatically “graded-on” but are otherwise eligible are invited to participate in the Write-On Competition. Information about the Write-On Competition (e.g. instructions, details about the application process, and deadlines) are disseminated early summer. The Write-On Competition consists of at least four (4) components: (1) a letter of intent; (2) a personal statement; (3) a written component in the form of a legal research and writing-style memorandum; and (4) a technical component relating to formal legal citations. The parameters of the Write-On Competition is established by the current Executive Board. The Executive Board thoroughly reviews all applications with all applications subject to blind-grading.
Regardless of whether a student joins Law Review via grade-on or write-on, all incoming Members take the title of Associate and have the same duties and opportunities. A student’s path to membership does not affect a student’s future experience on Law Review.
What are the duties of a Member?
A first-year member is an Associate. An Associate edits and evaluates articles for the article to publishable quality in compliant with the Law Review’s guidelines. Article editing and evaluation consists of but is not limited to: source assertion verification; clarity and grammar review; and citation editing. Additionally, an Associate must write publishable articles in the form of a Case Comment in the fall semester and a Note in the spring semester. Publishable quality articles are required for an Associate to vest into an Editor.
After an Associate completes his/her/their duties, an Associate vests into an Editor for their second and final year in Law Review. Editor responsibilities vary depending on the position, but an Editor serves either one of two functions: (1) to evaluate and incorporate suggested edits by an Associate; or (2) to support and guide an Associate in fulfilling his/her/their Associate writing responsibilities.
The Executive Board consists of four positions, all held by Members who have completed their Associate duties and requirements. The Executive Board oversees the operations of the Law Review and each role varies depending on the position. The Executive Board is selected through a rigorous application and interview process.
What is the time commitment associated with being a Member of Law Review?
Associates of Law Review have assigned weekly office hours; weekly office hours are fixed depending on the needs of the Law Review. Weekly office hours are in addition to the writing responsibilities required of every Associate. Time commitment varies but generally an Associate is expected to spend several hours a week on Law Review-related duties.
What is a Case Comment and Note and how does Comment/Note writing differ from Legal Research & Writing?
A Case Comment analyzes a recently decided case, discussing the legal impact of the decision and is between 20-35 pages. A Note analyzes a specific area of the law, focusing on specific issues, cases, and legislation and is between 40-55 pages. Both writings must be heavily footnoted, as most assertions made in either a Case Comment or a Note must be supported by a source.
Both writings are considered academic writing and widely differs from Legal Research & Writing. Some of they key differences include the style of writing, the audience, and the length.
The highest-scoring Case Comment and Note will automatically be selected for publication in the print edition of the Law Review. An Article may also be selected for publication depending on its timeliness, relevance, and publishable quality score.
How do credit hours for Law Review members work?
After successful completion of the first semester of membership, a Member can enroll in credit hours equating to the hours he/she/they dedicate to Law Review.
A Member who decides to take credit hours logs his/her/their hours into a time sheet. The Executive Board ensures that the Member is fulfilling his/her/their duties and that the credit[s] is/are earned appropriately.
An Associate in his/her/their spring semester can take up to (2) credits. The max a Member can take for his/her/their entire membership on Law Review is six (6) credit hours, with no more than four (4) hours allowed for the final semester.
There is no grade associated with credit hours for Law Review but the hours earned may be used to satisfy requirements for graduation.