Law Journal Submission Checker
Check your law review or legal research manuscript for citation format, structure, and submission compliance.
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How is legal scholarship formatted differently?
Legal scholarship uses unique citation conventions and structures distinct from other academic disciplines. Law reviews (Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc.) use Bluebook citation format in the US; UK law journals use OSCOLA. Legal articles typically follow: introduction, doctrinal analysis, argument sections, and conclusion, with extensive footnotes rather than in-text citations. Many law journals have strict word or footnote count limits. Submission to law reviews involves a specific manuscript format (typeface, margin, page requirements). Author anonymization is common.
Law journal compliance checks
Bluebook/OSCOLA citation format validation
Check that case citations, statute references, and secondary source citations follow Bluebook or OSCOLA conventions.
Footnote structure and completeness
Verify that footnotes are consistently formatted and that all citations are complete with required elements.
Word count and footnote count limit compliance
Check that the manuscript falls within the word and footnote count limits specified by the target journal.
Author anonymization for blind review
Verify that author-identifying information is removed from manuscripts submitted for anonymous review.
Abstract and keyword requirements
Check that an abstract and keyword list are present where required by the journal.
Checks relevant to this topic
Part of our 80+ automated checks
Citation format consistency
All citations follow Bluebook or OSCOLA conventions consistently.
Footnote completeness
Footnotes contain all required elements for each citation type.
Abstract present and within word limit
Abstract present and meets length requirements.
Author anonymization
Identifying information removed for anonymous submission.
Word count
Manuscript word count within the journal's stated limits.
Contact information for correspondence
Corresponding author contact details present on cover page.
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Postdoc Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
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Professor, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
I use it to review my students' papers. It instantly highlights typos, missing references, and unclear sections, helping me focus my feedback on the quality of the research instead of surface errors.
Ilyass
Professor in Mechanical Engineering, ÉTS Montréal
I relied on it throughout my thesis to strengthen my writing. It suggested clearer phrasing, improved flow between sections, and ensured my references were complete before the final deadline.
Manon
Master's Student in Speech Therapy
I write research in both Portuguese and English, and it adapts perfectly to either language. It provided precise feedback in Portuguese, helping me maintain academic tone and consistency across my drafts.
Afonso
PhD Candidate, UFPE
It gave excellent advice on how to rephrase and present ideas more clearly and concisely. The suggestions helped me refine my arguments and make my research more impactful.
Félix
Postdoc Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
A round of suggestions helped to generally refine the text of my paper and, moreover, to present some of its key points in a more focused form.
Oleg
Professor, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Frequently asked questions
US law reviews use Bluebook citation format, which has specific rules for citing cases, statutes, regulations, books, and articles. UK law journals use OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities). Both use footnotes rather than in-text citations.
Bluebook is the dominant legal citation manual in the United States. It specifies how to cite cases (with reporter abbreviations, court, and year), statutes, regulations, books, law review articles, and other legal sources. The 21st edition is current.
Law review articles typically have an introduction that identifies the legal problem and the article's argument, followed by doctrinal analysis sections, a normative or reform argument, and a conclusion. Footnotes are used throughout for citations and supporting analysis.
Many law reviews use an expedited review system where authors are identified, but some journals use anonymous review. When anonymization is required, authors must remove their name, institution, and any acknowledgments that would identify them from the manuscript.