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2 Pitt. J. Tech. L. & Pol'y 1 (2001-2002)

handle is hein.journals/pittjtlp2 and id is 1 raw text is: Volume II - Article 1 Essay: The Future of Law Reviews and Legal Journals From a Student Editor's Perspective Bradley J. Martineau Fall 2001 Copyright C 2001 University of Pittsburgh School of Law Journal of Technology Law and Policy Introduction Law reviews and legal journals have been part of the legal academic world for more than a century. [1] These legal publications are unique because they are completely run by students. However, over the last few decades, law reviews and legal journals have been highly criticized, and some critics even predict their demise. [2] If law reviews and legal journals expect to survive and remain valuable academic resources, then certain changes need to be made, and these changes are the responsibility of the student editors. Although some legal publications are making changes for the better, such as publishing online, more can be done to improve these student-run publications. By taking advantage of technological advances, especially the Internet, law reviews and legal journals can reduce the time it takes to publish an issue. In addition, these technological advances allow legal publications to offer many new features and services for both the authors and the readers. However, updating a publication with these new technological advances can be expensive. Thus, law reviews and legal journals need to generate more income from other sources than just subscriptions. Law reviews and legal journals must also make basic changes to the way articles are selected and the manner in which the authors' articles are edited. First, the articles selected for publication should be based on a blind selection process. [3] Second, student editors should be more deferential to the authors. Many authors have different styles of writing, and as long as the author's style is grammatically correct, student editors should defer to the author. However, student editors should still edit the author's article and make stylistic suggestions [4], but the ultimate decision whether to implement these recommended changes should be the author's. Thus, student editors should take the perspective that they are providing an editing service to author rather than telling the authors how they must write their articles before they will be published. Part I of this essay examines how law reviews and legal journals have traditionally operated, and the relevant criticisms regarding these traditional publications. Part II of this essay discusses the future of law reviews and legal journals and how they need to change so that they can continue to be a useful academic resource for students, professors, judges, and practitioners.

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