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Monday, February 05, 2018
Submission Angsting Spring 2018
This is the post to share information or ask questions about submitting to law reviews.
The comments can be used to share information, complaints, praise, etc. about which journals you have heard from, which you have not, and so forth.
Additionally, a spreadsheet to gather information is here (and embedded below).
I won't update or watch the spreadsheet. You can go ahead and add your own information by going to the spreadsheet here. The spreadsheet is editable by anyone, except that a few columns and a row (the ones highlighted in yellow) are locked, either because they auto-calculate or because tampering with them has caused a problem in the past. (If something about them needs to be changed post a comment, and I will change them.) As more information is added, I will do some pointless data calculations on subsequent sheets.
Entering information in the column entitled "Username" is of course totally optional, but a way to make keeping track easier. For example, if you pick a username, you will easily be able to sort by your entries and update them, instead of trying to remember what day you submitted and sorting that way. This also adds information -- showing, for example, that all of the entries on the spreadsheet come from one person, or from lots of people, etc. At any rate, totally optional, and simply a way to add more information.
Rostron & Levit's extremely helpful guide to submitting to law reviews is available here (this is the January 2018 version). Rostron and Levit have also posted a list of links to law review websites.
I cannot link to the last page of comments, due to a Typepad change.
Posted by Sarah Lawsky on February 5, 2018 at 10:21 AM in Law Review Review | Permalink
Comments
Hi all, I am closing this comment thread to drive comments to the Fall 2018 thread (and spreadsheet), available here:
http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/2018/07/submission-angsting-fall-2018.html
Posted by: Sarah Lawsky | Jul 28, 2018 7:08:52 PM
maryland and indiana are also out.
Posted by: anon | Jul 28, 2018 6:11:19 PM
Rogue1,
I submitted July 9. Dinged July 12.
Posted by: YesterdayIKilledAMammoth | Jul 28, 2018 4:40:27 PM
Northwestern sent some rejections a few days ago.
Posted by: AnonProf | Jul 28, 2018 3:42:15 PM
YIKAM, when did you submit to Yale?
Posted by: Rogue 1 | Jul 28, 2018 3:35:07 PM
Duke I believe is also out this cycle.
Posted by: anon | Jul 28, 2018 10:57:46 AM
So what length range are the law reviews actually expecting for articles? Last spring I placed a ~17,000-word article in a T25 law review, but it was rejected by a few higher ranked law reviews for the explicit reason that it was too short to qualify as an article.
Posted by: anon | Jul 28, 2018 9:32:42 AM
Yeah, I think Penn is out until the Spring. Not sure of any others. No responses on my end yet, except Yale. Did not take them long at all to ding me this cycle. But I kind of figured that. This particular article is going to have a tough time with mainline law reviews.
Posted by: YesterdayIKilledAMammoth | Jul 28, 2018 2:00:10 AM
I agree, but Penn states on its website that it will not review any new submissions until Spring 2019. Just wondering if anyone knows of any other journals similarly out until next Spring.
Posted by: Rogue 1 | Jul 27, 2018 3:43:29 PM
A number of journals will not open until Aug. 1. I'm just planning to submit to all at that time.
Posted by: anon | Jul 27, 2018 2:51:50 PM
Also, anyone know of journals that are closed this Fall? Looks like Penn may be out this round.
Posted by: Rogue 1 | Jul 27, 2018 2:09:06 PM
Helloooooo Fall cyclers. Nothing to report yet but happy for the company. Was wondering when this thread would go live. Will report as soon as I hear from my early submissions.
Posted by: Rogue 1 | Jul 27, 2018 2:07:27 PM
I submitted to Northwestern on the exclusive cycle but have not heard anything. Has anyone heard from them yet?
Posted by: anon | Jul 25, 2018 9:03:58 PM
Writing to see if there are any early action reports for the fall cycle. The exclusive periods seem like they may have moved the cycle up a bit, so I submitted to a few places earlier than usual to test the waters.
Anybody doing the same?
Posted by: YesterdayIKilledAMammoth | Jul 25, 2018 8:23:38 PM
Kevin Lapp:
You are spot on. I'm a critic of almost everything, but this law review system is an author's dream. (And I don't even take full advantage of it, e.g., I only submit to schools where I would actually publish, I've never asked for an extension of a deadline in over twenty publications, etc.)
Many authors cry for "peer review." Do they really want to submit to one journal at a time, wait weeks or even months, and then get a rejection along with anonymous feedback that is so far off base they spend hours drafting a letter to the editor explaining how the anonymous "peer" reviewer misunderstands the law, statistics, or whatever?
I'll keep the status quo, thanks. And profs should hope that student editors don't reform the system, e.g., giving exploding offers across the board.
Posted by: Michael Cicchini | Apr 26, 2018 11:08:51 AM
Count me out when it comes to any collective action to make this already author-friendly publishing system any more burdensome to law students and convenient to authors. A submission to a journal does not entitle you to have your paper read, much less does it entitle you to a response from that journal, on your timeline.
If our system worked like most other systems (a submission to a single journal at a time), then some timely response norms from journals would be part of the process. But when an author can submit to 100 different publications at once, and there are hundreds of authors all sending in their pieces in February and March to 100 journals at once (some of which are strictly used as devices in the expedite system and are not what might be called genuine submissions) (this comment is not directed at you, newbie), it is unreasonable to expect every journal to complete its review all the way to a final decision by some (often short-term) deadline imposed by the submitting author.
In a related, anecdata note - I didn't submit until April 2nd, submitted to 50 journals, and included a promise not to expedite off of any offer to publish. I received either an offer to publish or a rejection from 14 journals (it would take my spouse, who is an academic in another field, 2 years to compile as many journal reviews and rejections as I got in 3 weeks). As time passed and offers came in, I withdraw my paper from 30 journals. At the time that I accepted my offer on Monday, there were 8 journals outstanding that had not responded.
Posted by: Kevin Lapp | Apr 24, 2018 1:54:41 PM
For other future first timers out there--the season seems to have ended by now (end of April), but I did get an offer from a specialty journal last week. Radio silence on the expedite requests after that though. Hopefully hearing this will help more newbies in the future when you read these posts to get a sense of when you might hear back.
Is there any way that we as a collective can start pressuring journals to actually respond? I submitted to nearly 100 journals this cycle (again, newbie, so I didn't know where I might place) and heard back from less than 20. This is very rude and frustrating.
Posted by: newbie | Apr 24, 2018 10:02:08 AM
Anon and Anonon, can you update the spreadsheet? I expedited up from a 60-70 range and am waiting for about 15 journals to make decisions. I'm wondering which are still active.
Posted by: JollyGoodFellow | Apr 19, 2018 3:19:28 PM
just got a T20 offer
Posted by: anon | Apr 16, 2018 8:42:57 AM
For what its worth, I am still getting notices of board votes and new offers by flagship journals at schools ranked in the 40-70 range off of an expedite decision due this week.
Posted by: Anonon | Apr 16, 2018 5:59:38 AM
ErieSwiftByrd,
I did that last cycle to a specialty journal. I submitted quite late in the cycle (after Labor Day). It was published there. I think they might have appreciated knowing that I would accept if they made an offer. It makes it lower risk and helps them know they will fill their volume. It probably wouldn't make a difference for a top journal, because they are unlikely to worry about submitters expediting and declining their offer.
Posted by: JollyGoodFellow | Apr 13, 2018 2:21:14 PM
Asking for a colleague of mine: has anyone submitted an article to the Denver Law Rev Emerging Scholar Award and heard back from them?
Posted by: BB | Apr 12, 2018 2:13:43 PM
some journals like penn and washington expressly offer an exclusive option. i think if you offered that to a lower ranked journal it could help. Like if you told Brooklyn, i am submitting excluisvely for 7 days, they would have to notice.
At top schools, unless you are a big name prof, it's probably not worth it.
Posted by: anon | Apr 12, 2018 10:35:31 AM
Thinking forward to next August, has anyone ever indicator to journals that you would accept an offer without expediting? Does anyone think that might help your chances if you're eyeing maybe a specific journal?
Posted by: ErieSwiftByrd | Apr 12, 2018 3:32:24 AM
Thanks very much, Anon.
Posted by: first_timer | Apr 11, 2018 10:18:44 AM
Ohio State rejected me a few days ago so might still be open.
Posted by: Anona | Apr 10, 2018 8:29:45 AM
To first-timer, I think no harm in reaching out but you might not hear back.
Posted by: Anon | Apr 10, 2018 7:35:09 AM
Anyone know if any of the following are still reviewing - FSU,SMU,Cardozo, Ohio State?
Posted by: Anon | Apr 10, 2018 7:33:09 AM
I submitted about a month ago and it's been radio silence from almost every journal. I'm now considering submitting the paper to another time-sensitive venue that requires exclusive submission. Would it be reasonable to message a handful of my most-preferred journals asking for a status update before I decide to withdraw? Or is this kind of reach-out frowned upon?
Thanks!
Posted by: first_timer | Apr 9, 2018 8:47:18 PM
Looks like NYU is still reviewing, based on recent rejections
Posted by: jrprof | Apr 7, 2018 5:30:12 PM
Georgetown is done
Posted by: anon2 | Apr 6, 2018 7:31:36 PM
Anon - good to know. I always wonder how much I'm annoying journals by going down to the wire before I accept, because I'm waiting on other journals that don't respond to expedite.
Posted by: cranky | Apr 6, 2018 5:14:59 PM
Former SAE here. We really didn't mind the delay. We always had one or two back ups who we would have been happy to offer a slot to, if our top choice declined. It's always fun to be able to say yes.
Posted by: Anon | Apr 6, 2018 4:46:01 PM
Yeah, I realize that I am not the most unbiased audience but also speaking as a former law review editor - I find the journals who just refuse to ding to be not only bizarre, but inconsiderate, not merely to authors, but to other journals. Authors hold offers open waiting on higher-ranked journals that never respond. That delay before the author can accept an offer has got to be both stressful and inconvenient for the offering journal.
Posted by: cranky | Apr 6, 2018 4:40:09 PM
I am wondering the same about Harvard. In prior cycles, I recall getting dings (or once a full vote). I am sort of astonished that they haven't bothered with a rejection this year and that their form submission indicates "still under review." I expect less of Penn, USC, BC, Emory, other schools who for years people have reported don't ding. But Harvard has always seemed on it in the past.
Posted by: submitTHIS | Apr 6, 2018 12:49:18 PM
anon3, here is what they sent me:
Thank you for allowing us to consider your manuscript for publication in The George Washington Law Review. Our editors have had an opportunity to review your manuscript. It is a strong contribution.
Unfortunately, we receive a large number of submissions worthy of publication but lack the space to publish them all. I regret that we will be unable to publish your article in our current volume.
We appreciate your submission, and wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable home for your article. I encourage you to continue to submit manuscripts for our review in the future.
Posted by: JollyGoodFellow | Apr 5, 2018 7:12:21 PM
Does GW's standard rejection say anything about the submission being strong?
Posted by: anon3 | Apr 5, 2018 4:32:36 PM
Does Harvard even send out rejections?
There is also scant reporting on USC here (ever). Why is that?
Posted by: A non | Apr 5, 2018 1:17:08 PM
There are some law reviews still reviewing & making offers. I released two ~T50 offers recently, and received a T30 offer.
Posted by: latecomer | Apr 5, 2018 12:06:51 PM
Anon at 8:50 - oh my god
Posted by: anononononon | Apr 5, 2018 9:10:11 AM
ExpediteAngster, I just heard from BC off an expedite -- for an article that I submitted and expedited a year ago, and that has already been published elsewhere. My sense is that they are a bit behind.
Posted by: Anon | Apr 5, 2018 8:50:29 AM
Regretting in a previous spring cycle turning down a T30 offer holding out for more, and had nothing in Fall of same year and now only got a T50 for my time (and missed citations from waiting a year).
Posted by: pre-tenure | Apr 4, 2018 6:29:48 PM
ExpediteAngster, I heard no from most of those journals, but never heard from NYU, Penn, USC, or BC.
Anonjunior, I'd probably take Utah over a NW specialty, but I have family who attended Utah for their undergrad degrees, so I have a soft spot in my heart for the place.
Posted by: El Jefe | Apr 4, 2018 12:21:48 PM
ExpediteAngster -- I got a ding from Chicago on 3/30 off expedite, but I'm still waiting to hear from the vast majority of the journals you listed.
Posted by: longtimelurker | Apr 4, 2018 11:18:35 AM
Georgetown said it’s done for this cycle.
Posted by: Anon101 | Apr 4, 2018 5:59:36 AM
any thoughts on picking utah law review vs. a northwestern secondary journal?
Posted by: anonjunior | Apr 4, 2018 5:20:33 AM
Has anyone recently heard off expedites from any of: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Chicago, Cal, Penn, Texas, G’town, UCLA, Wash U., USC., BC, Emory, Irvine, W&L, Colorado, Wake, or Illinois?
Thanks!
Posted by: ExpediteAngster | Apr 3, 2018 1:36:39 PM
Kitchensink, if you look at the data here:
https://scholasticahq.com/law-review-submissions-insights
about halfway through, it suggests that we are reaching the tail end of the process, but that there will still be decisions occurring between now and mid-April, and then at that point this cycle will pretty much be done.
Posted by: KitchensinkReply | Apr 3, 2018 5:15:09 AM
All,
I have many journals all over the board with no response, probably 40+ still sitting on my article. At this point, is it basically past the point of no return, or are offers still being made? Usually I have things placed pretty early, so this is a new level of angst.
-Kitchensink
Posted by: Kitchensink | Apr 2, 2018 9:06:08 PM
angstrina, I haven’t heard from Harvard, Yale or Stanford law & tech journals either. They also ignored my expedite requests. Wonder if they are still reviewing. Does anyone know?
Posted by: Anon101 | Apr 1, 2018 1:09:09 AM
Yes
Posted by: Anon | Mar 30, 2018 4:10:35 PM
Cardozo or Florida State Univ.?
Would you pick the other if you've already published in one?
Posted by: nyprof | Mar 30, 2018 3:29:36 PM
Let me clarify -- I'm generally for blind review and article selection based solely on the merit of the article. But if you're going to use signals in the process, I would put *current fellowship/VAP in top program* close to or at the top of the list for the reasons I outlined in my previous post.
Posted by: anonAE | Mar 29, 2018 10:18:05 PM
Giving preference to fellows is very strange to me. Many fellows (especially in recent years) end up at low ranked schools. Why on earth give more benefit of the doubt to a fellow than to the person at school 150 who was a fellow a few years ago?
The lack of merit based selection is one of the most discouraging parts of this job.
Posted by: Profanon | Mar 29, 2018 8:34:16 PM
Giving preference to fellows is very strange to me. Many fellows (especially in recent years) end up at low ranked schools. Why on earth give more benefit of the doubt to a fellow than to the person at school 150 who was a fellow a few years ago?
The lack of merit based selection is one of the most discouraging parts of this job.
Posted by: Profanon | Mar 29, 2018 8:34:10 PM
Hello friends! Looking forward- which journals actively review in August? Has anyone had particular success with any August reviews? Particularly policy/social justice specialties? Any suggestions for submitting at that time?
Posted by: backinaugust | Mar 29, 2018 10:00:52 AM
which articles are still up and running?
historically certain ones like cardozo, florida state, south carolina and hastings are late but i don't know if that's still the case. Anyone have an idea on which journals are still actively reviewing or which journals started reviewing late? Some like South Carolina I know did not even start until March so if people know which ones started in March those ones are probably still revieiwng.
Posted by: anon | Mar 29, 2018 9:42:02 AM
anon from 5:41 here.
@anonAE. I agree that fellows are doing great work. My only point was that counting Climenkos alongside HLS profs in order to prove letterhead bias seems odd (if that’s what was being done). I suppose it depends how the letterhead bias is created. If it’s literally the logo on the letterhead, then ok Harvard’s Harvard. But if it’s CV-based, I wouldn’t imagine articles editors to assume better things about the unproven fellows than profs that surely have more experience writing this stuff at least.
Then again, your post—given your status as an AE—seems to contradict that thought.
Posted by: anon | Mar 29, 2018 9:12:50 AM
My cycle is done. I submitted late (early March) and ended up with a T30 placement that I’m pleased with. I’m not sure to what extent the late aubmiasion hurt me, but I will note that the expedite from the T30 offer was surprisingly silent. I’m guessing that many top journals are winding down, if not outright done.
Posted by: Fellow-ish | Mar 29, 2018 6:06:35 AM
My cycle is done. I submitted late (early March) and ended up with a T30 placement that I’m pleased with. I’m not sure to what extent the late aubmiasion hurt me, but I will note that the expedite from the T30 offer was surprisingly silent. I’m guessing that many top journals are winding down, if not outright done.
Posted by: Fellow-ish | Mar 29, 2018 6:06:33 AM
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