HRSSWC Guidelines
Article Format
Submissions must be original, unpublished academic works by one author. All manuscripts must be submitted in English. The text should be double-spaced in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. The length must be between 25 and 50 pages, including footnotes. Footnotes may appear in single-spaced 10-point font. All citations must conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed., 2005). We regret that we are unable to return any manuscripts submitted for consideration or offer feedback on reviewed works.
Eligible Authors
We accept submissions from J.D., L.L.M., and S.J.D. candidates from both the United States and abroad. Submissions from May 2009 graduates will be considered if they were written as part of a law school curriculum. Only one entry per student is permitted. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification. No paper previously published will be considered. However, papers currently being considered for publication, papers related to research done by the author and/or submitted to fulfill a course requirement or law journal Note requirement may be submitted. Submissions should not yet have undergone significant editing by journal editors, professors, or others.
Submitting Manuscripts
We strongly recommend that pieces be submitted electronically at HRSSWC@list.mail.virginia.edu. In addition to your paper, submit a single page cover sheet that includes:
• Your name;
• Your phone number & e-mail;
• Your mailing address;
• The title of your paper.
• Your school name, graduation year, and degree sought or attained.
If you are unable to submit your paper electronically, you may mail the submission to:
Human Rights Student Scholars Writing Competition
Attn: Professor Deena Hurwitz
University of Virginia School of Law
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
If your manuscript is submitted in hardcopy, we will contact you should we wish to obtain an electronic version of your piece.
The Selection Process
All submissions will be subject to an initial screening process involving at least three readers. The finalists will then be reviewed by a committee of judges consisting of Virginia law professors and VJIL editors. The panel will then select the top paper among the finalists. Submissions will be judged on their depth of legal analysis, quality of writing, readiness for publication, originality (in topic selection and treatment), thoroughness of research, relevance, and future impact. The winner will be announced in mid-March 2010. The committee reserves the right to make one or more awards, or none at all, in a given year.
