Law Reviews

Definition

Law reviews are scholarly journals that focus on legal issues, publishing articles, essays, and comments written by legal scholars, practitioners, and students. These publications serve as a critical resource in the legal research process by providing in-depth analysis, commentary on current legal developments, and case law interpretations that can influence legal practice and scholarship.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Law reviews typically publish articles that are often over 20 pages long, allowing for comprehensive exploration of legal topics.
2. Many law reviews are affiliated with law schools, and their editorial boards usually consist of law students who select which submissions to publish.
3. The citation of law review articles is common in court opinions and briefs, illustrating their influence on legal arguments and decisions.
4. Law reviews also include sections for shorter pieces such as book reviews and case comments, broadening their contributions to legal discourse.
5. These publications often focus on emerging legal trends and interdisciplinary approaches, making them valuable for understanding evolving areas of law.

Review Questions

• How do law reviews contribute to the process of legal research and scholarship?
  • Law reviews play a significant role in the legal research process by providing a platform for extensive scholarly discussion on various legal topics. They offer in-depth analyses that can inform practitioners and scholars about evolving legal standards and theories. By presenting arguments, critiques, and interpretations of case law, law reviews help shape the landscape of legal scholarship and can influence both legislative developments and judicial decision-making.
• Evaluate the impact of law reviews on the development of case law and legal practices.
  • Law reviews have a substantial impact on the development of case law and legal practices as they serve as a medium for scholars and practitioners to discuss important rulings and propose changes to existing laws. Their articles can help identify gaps in current law or highlight areas requiring reform. Moreover, judges and attorneys often cite law review articles in their opinions and briefs, thereby incorporating scholarly insights into actual court cases which influences how laws are interpreted and applied.
• Critically assess the role of peer review in maintaining the integrity and quality of articles published in law reviews.
  • Peer review is essential in ensuring the integrity and quality of articles published in law reviews because it involves evaluation by experts who assess the relevance, accuracy, and scholarly contribution of submitted works. This process helps maintain high academic standards within legal scholarship, ensuring that only well-researched and soundly argued pieces reach publication. However, it's also important to recognize that while peer review adds credibility, it may also introduce biases based on prevailing academic perspectives or institutional affiliations. Therefore, understanding these dynamics is crucial for evaluating the reliability of law review content.

Related terms

Legal Scholarship: The academic study of law and legal issues, often involving theoretical analysis and critical examination of legal principles and practices.

Case Law: Law established by the outcome of former court cases, which is used as a precedent for future legal decisions.

Peer Review:

A process in which scholarly work or research is evaluated by experts in the field before publication to ensure quality and credibility.