The Editorial Board of the W&L Law Review invites legal scholars and practitioners to submit articles and essays on areas of the law that are currently of interest to the legal profession. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis after the cycle opens. Student-written works are not accepted. The W&L Law Review considers submissions for publication that meet the following editorial criteria:
- 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;
- Adequate footnoting with citations conforming to The Bluebook: A Uniform
System of Citation (21st ed. 2020); - Have a coherent, narrative structure and organization;
- Assert an independent, original, developed, and supportable thought or proposal; the submission should have a normative point, rather than one of description or summation.
The Law Review has two submission cycles beginning on August 1 for the Spring and Summer Books, and February 1 for the Winter Book and the Black Scholars Book.
Although we prefer to receive submissions through our Scholastica page for our Fall and Spring cycles, authors who would prefer not to use Scholastica can send their submissions via email to lawreview@wlu.edu or via mail.
The Black Law Scholars Book was first published in 2022 with articles by members of the Lutie A. Lytle and John Mercer Langston workshops. Today, we receive submissions for the Black Scholars Book from any interested author. As Professor Carliss Chatman stated in her foreword to the inaugural book: “The goal of the W&L Law Review is to hold space for scholarship of historically marginalized voices.” We are proud to continue that work as we seek submissions to be published in 84:5 in early 2028.
Consistent with its history, the Black Scholars Book welcomes submissions from all authors regardless of race, sex, gender, religion, national origin or other protected characteristics.
View our 2022, 2023, and 2024 Black Scholars Books on Scholarly Commons.
Submit to Washington and Lee Law Review
Mail to:
Senior Articles Editors
Washington and Lee Law Review
Washington and Lee University School of Law
1 Denny Circle
Sydney Lewis Hall Room 408
Lexington, Virginia 24450
Manuscript Requirements
- Microsoft Word Documents ONLY
- Double-spaced & in 11 pt. Century Schoolbook Font (including the footnotes)
- On 8½ ” X 11” paper
- Text and footnotes that conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st ed. 2020)
*Please do not make duplicate submissions.
Expedited Request Requirements
We strongly prefer expedite requests via our Scholastica page. You may, however, call our office at (540) 458-8566. If there is no answer, please leave a voice mail message. Due to the large number of requests we receive, we are unable to return phone calls. In order to process your requests in a timely manner, it is important that you include the following information:
- Name of Journal(s) who have accepted your manuscript for publication
- Assigned deadline(s) for your decision
- Your e-mail address
