Write-on Competition

Write-on CompetitionThis week we welcome back guest writer Stephanie Gregoire to talk about what the write-on competition experience was like for her.

This past summer, I went through the write-on competition for my school’s flagship law review and was successfully selected to join the law review as a member. During that entire process, I found myself having several “I wish I would’ve known this” moments, so to that end I hope to provide some illumination into the vagaries of the write-on competition.

I do want to caveat that each school (and sometimes each journal at a school) will operate theirs differently, so for the sake of transparency, here’s how mine functions: all of the journals and law review have the same write-on “prompt” but invite different categories of people to participate over a two-ish week period during the summer. Our “prompt” was a case pending before the Supreme Court, and we had to write a note or comment on that case that we then submitted for anonymous evaluation. It was not mandatory, and if we were eligible to write-on to multiple journals we could submit to all of them. With that background out of the way, let’s talk about my multiple “what…” moments! [Read more…]

How to Write a Law Review Note Worthy of Publication: Presentation and Style

Jonathan Burns Attorney PhotoToday, we’re thrilled to welcome back Jonathan Burns back to The Girl’s Guide for more advice on writing a law review Note that’s worthy of publication. His first posts were on picking a great Note topic and actually writing the Note. Today, he’s back to talk about ever-important issues of presentation and style.

Welcome, Jonathan!

While the substance of your Note and the balance of the four aforementioned elements that comprise it are the most important aspects of producing a Note worthy of publication, there are a few hints and “dirty tricks” that I as a former member of a Note Publication Selection Committee can offer.

A. Focus on First Impressions

To begin, understand that first impressions are important. Thus, before you begin writing, take some time to glance through some law journals and law review articles. You will doubtless notice a few things.

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How to Write a Law Review Note Worthy of Publication: Writing the Note

Jonathan Burns Attorney PhotoToday, we’re thrilled to welcome back Jonathan Burns to The Girl’s Guide for more advice on writing a law review Note that’s worth of publication. He’s here to discuss a critical topic — actually writing the Note!

Welcome, Jonathan!

While the theme of your Note is of utmost foundational importance in the publication decision process, the substance of your Note must adequately address the theme with a thorough (yet concise), clear, and relevant objective background as well as a thoughtful, well-reasoned, and in-depth subjective analysis.

But first, let’s take a moment to discuss what a law review Note is.

[Read more…]

How to Write a Law Review Note Worthy of Publication: Choosing a Theme

Jonathan Burns Attorney PhotoAs some of you may know, I was a rather reluctant member of the Columbia Law Review. I hated writing my Note, and it wasn’t very good. (Shockingly enough, it wasn’t selected for publication.)

Basically, I had no idea what I was doing and had a generally bad attitude about the whole process. That’s why I’m so excited to welcome Jonathan Burns to The Girl’s Guide!

Jonathan is a 2014 graduate of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where he served on the Editorial Board and the Note Publication Selection Committee for the Indiana International & Comparative Law Review.

He’s here to share a series on how to publish a Law Review Note that’s worthy of publication — so you can optimize your law journal experience.

Welcome, Jonathan! [Read more…]