Legal Studies – New Editors’ Statement

6th October 2022

The SLS are delighted to welcome the new Editors of Legal Studies: Dr Rachel Cahill-O’Callaghan, Dr Niamh Dunne, Professor James Lee and Dr Rachael Walsh.  The team have provided the following statement:

“We are honoured to have been appointed by the Society of Legal Scholars as the next Editors of Legal Studies. We express our appreciation for our predecessor Editors who have curated the journal over the past 42 years, and pay tribute to the current team, led by Bruce Wardhaugh and Nicola Glover-Thomas as Editors in Chief, with Phil Handler, Margaret Brazier, John Pearson and Dr Hannah Quirk for their strong stewardship. We are also grateful to authors and peer reviewers for their important contributions to the journal’s success. We shall be working with Bruce, the team and colleagues from Cambridge University Press on current submissions, during the transition ahead of our initial issue as Editors will be the first issue of 2023. That issue will include a longer Editorial, setting our aims for our tenure. In order that authors can consider prospective submissions, we announce certain aspects of our policy now.

Legal Studies will continue to invite submissions of excellent, rigorous legal scholarship of significance and interest to the journal’s generalist readership, representing a diverse range of perspectives. Submissions may be sent via Manuscript Central https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/lest, for editorial consideration. Articles may be up to 12,000 words including footnotes. We welcome authors expressing initial interest by contacting the Editors in advance of formal submission with a title and short abstract by e-mailing legalstudies@legalscholars.ac.uk.

In addition to feature-length articles, we are introducing a Current Developments section. This section will include the existing opportunity for book reviews, but also comments on recent case law, law reform proposals or legislative developments. Such comments may be up to 3,000 words, including footnotes. In order to engage the journal’s audience, there will be presumptions that recent developments covered have occurred within the two years prior to submission, and that cases should be decisions from appellate courts in the relevant jurisdiction. Any author interested in contributing such a comment or book review should first contact currentdevelopments@legalscholars.ac.uk. All submitted comments would still be subject to peer review.

We all share a firm commitment to the importance and value of the journal’s remit and mission, including supporting colleagues at all career stages.

We look forward to receiving submissions.”