Washington and Lee Law Review

For Authors

Submit Manuscript

History
Founded in 1938, the Washington and Lee Law Review publishes scholarly legal writings by judges, professors, practitioners, and student members of the Washington and Lee Law Review. The Law Review currently employs approximately 80 law students in staff and editorial positions. The staff, consisting of about 40 students in their second year, check manuscripts for citation and typographical errors. The editorial board, made up of about 40 third-year students, manage the operations of the Law Review.

Submissions
The Editorial Board of the Washington and Lee Law Review invites legal scholars, judges, and practitioners to submit articles and essays on areas of the law that are currently of interest. The Law Review has three submissions cycles beginning on August 1 for the Winter and Spring Books and February 1 for the Fall Books. For more information, please visit our website.

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis until issues are filled. Student-written works are not accepted. The Law Review considers submissions for publication that meet the following editorial criteria:

  1. We have a minimum word requirement of 20,000 words (including footnotes, but not appendices) and a maximum word limit of 30,000 words (including footnotes). 20,000 to 25,000 words are preferred;
  2. Adequate footnoting with citations conforming to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (22nd ed. 2025);
  3. Have a coherent, narrative structure and organization;
  4. Assert an independent, original, developed, and supportable thought or proposal; the submission should have a normative point, rather than one of description or summation.

Manuscript Requirements

  1. Microsoft Word Documents ONLY
  2. Double-spaced & in 11 pt. Century Schoolbook Font (including the footnotes)
  3. 8½ ” X 11” paper
  4. Text and footnotes that conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (22nd ed. 2025)

We also accept manuscripts via email (lawreview@wlu.edu).

Expedited Request Requirements
We strongly prefer expedite requests via our Scholastica page. In order to process your requests in a timely manner, it is important that you include the following information:

  1. Name of Journal(s) who have accepted your manuscript for publication
  2. Assigned deadline(s) for your decision
  3. Your e-mail address