Harvard Journal on Legislation

Update for Volume 59
We are no longer accepting submissions for our print edition but welcome submissions for our online publication. We will begin accepting print submissions for Volume 60 in February 2022.

General Information
The Harvard Journal on Legislation (JOL) seeks to publish innovative, original scholarship on a wide range of topics — law, policy, politics, history — as long as the subject matter will be of interest to policymakers. JOL accepts articles from legal scholars, practitioners, doctoral degree candidates, and current members of Congress.

Timing
We accept submissions on a rolling basis. However, to be considered for the Winter issue, articles generally should be submitted by February 1st; to be considered for the Summer issue, it is best to submit articles by August 1st.

Requirements
Submissions should not exceed 27,000 words, including footnotes. We prefer article submissions in Microsoft Word format. Articles may be single or double-spaced. Footnotes must conform with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (most recent edition), and authors should be prepared to supply any cited sources upon request.

In addition to the article submitted for consideration, authors are encouraged to include an abstract of not more than 250 words and a resume or CV, which includes a list of current publications. A short cover letter is also acceptable if the author(s) wish to provide further context regarding their article, their background, and/or their reason for requesting publication in JOL specifically. Authors also must ensure that their submissions include a direct e-mail address and phone number at which they can be reached throughout the review period.

Submission and Platform Fees
JOL accepts electronic submissions directly through Scholastica, which charges $6.50 per author submission. If this fee poses any barrier to submission, please contact the Executive Board at hlsjol@mail.law.harvard.edu.

Expedited Reviews
In limited cases, we can expedite the review of a submitted article if the author is facing strict response deadlines by other journals that have already accepted the article. To request an expedited review, please select this option during submission through the Scholastica system.

We will do our best to accommodate authors’ requests for expedition of their submissions but may request that authors seek extensions to ensure that their manuscripts receive full and appropriate consideration.

The Selection Process
JOL considers all manuscripts submitted for publication. Each piece is reviewed by at least two Board members. We conduct an individualized, holistic review of every piece. Considerations include: the clarity and effectiveness of the writing; rigorous analysis of ideas; creativity of the policy or legislative issue presented; accuracy and quality of citations; and grammar, spelling, and technical accuracy. The JOL Executive Board makes final decisions regarding publication. Once an article has been selected, the Editors-in-Chief will contact the author(s) to notify them of a publication offer. If the author(s) accept the offer, the Managing Editor will then follow-up with a contract and further information on the publication process. If selected for publication in JOL, authors should expect to work closely with JOL staff on substantial substantive and technical revisions prior to the article’s final publication. JOL greatly appreciates all submissions.

Please note that, due to high submissions volume, we are unable to offer feedback on articles not accepted for publication.

Student Writing
Students from Harvard Law School and other law schools can submit to our journal through a separate student writing process. To learn more, please visit our website.