University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

A typical University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform cover.

The University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform is a quarterly law review published by an independent student group at the University of Michigan Law School. It publishes articles and student-written notes that propose legal reforms. These reforms can occur in one of three ways: (1) changing the actual text of laws; (2) changing the enforcement of laws; or (3) changing the interpretation of laws.

Periodically, the journal hosts symposia where academics and policymakers discuss legal reform. Past symposia have focused on topics such as media regulation, market-oriented welfare reform, managed care reform, jury reform, and Title IX reform.

History

The University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform was established in 1968 under the name Prospectus: A Journal of Law Reform. It was originally conceptualized as a faculty edited journal. Before the publication of the first issue, the untimely death of Frank E. Cooper, the first faculty editor, transformed the journal into a wholly student-run journal.[1] Then-Dean Francis A. Allen authored the first article. In this Prospectus for Reform, he set two goals for the journal: "to report efforts to improve the law and its administration and to stimulate thought and ... action to this end,"[2] and "to enlarge the opportunities for law journal experience of students at the University of Michigan Law School."[3] Starting with its fourth volume in 1971, the journal obtained its current name. David L. Callies served as the first managing editor. A year later, Ronald B. Schram became the first editor-in-chief. The first woman to serve as editor-in-chief was Margaret L. Houy. The current editor-in-chief is Patrick Andrew Thronson.[4]

Selection

The University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform uses a competitive process that takes into account an applicant's writing sample, résumé, personal statement, and performance on a citation editing exercise. Applicants are also required to identify an area of law in need of reform that could serve as the basis for a note. The journal selects between 46 and 50 editors annually from the incoming second-year law school class.

Notable articles

References

  1. Francis A. Allen, On Coming of Age: Twenty-Five Years of the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, 25 U. Mich. J.L. Reform 1 (1991).
  2. Francis A. Allen, A Prospectus for Reform, 1 Prospectus 1, 2 (1968).
  3. Id. at 3.
  4. "Announcement of Editorial Board - Vol 45". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.