About Us
Established in 1927, the Southern California Law Review is an independent and autonomous entity. Each year the Law Review publishes one volume, which is produced in six separate issues. Each issue normally contains several articles written by outside contributors and several notes written by students from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. The Law Review strives to publish articles on a wide range of topics and to serve all segments of the legal community. In addition, the Law Review frequently hosts a forum in order to explore timely or controversial areas of law.
Matters of policy, procedure, and content are determined solely by the Editorial Board. All decision-making authority is delegated by the Dean of the law school to the Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief, in turn, delegates various responsibilities to the Editorial Board and the Law Review Staff.
Why Should I Join SCLR?
Joining Law Review provides an important opportunity for those wishing to advance their career goals, engage in a world of academia, and gain invaluable training for judicial clerkships. Because the Law Review is entirely student-run, joining the Law Review offers unique opportunities that are not offered elsewhere. For those interested in academia, students have the opportunity to be published and to be potentially cited in other academic works or even in judicial opinions. Even more importantly, students select and elevate articles submitted by professors, practitioners, and legal scholars across the world for publication, which may also be cited in judicial opinions. Students work closely with authors to help perfect and present their voice in renowned legal scholarship. Students on the Law Review are part of the vanguards that advance real, timely, and thought-provoking legal scholarship.
Students interested in publication write a Note, which is closely supervised by faculty advisors. This allows students to forge valuable relationships with their professors of their choosing and to present their own perspectives on novel legal issues, on a subject they determine to be most interesting. Being selected for publication is heavily considered for success for those wishing to pursue a career in academia or those seeking to pursue a judicial clerkship, which is a highly competitive process.
Employers also see Law Review membership as a marker for success. This is because students on the Law Review have strong writing or editing skills, attention to detail, work ethic and dedication, and strong analytical and reading comprehension.
Statement of Diversity
The Southern California Law Review recognizes that a diverse membership is essential to upholding our tradition of excellence and outstanding scholarship. Diversity of personal experience and identity reflected in Law Review’s membership translates into a richer exchange of ideas, both in its scholarship and its internal processes. Since cumulative personal experiences shape how individuals view the world, the inclusion of diverse perspectives in Law Review membership facilitates thoughtful, innovative, and complex scholarship. Moreover, a diverse membership strengthens community, produces more informed decision-making, and facilitates culturally informed mentorship. Ultimately, because Law Review membership serves as a stepping-stone in the legal profession, this policy ensures that the Law Review and the doors it opens remain accessible to all.
The Southern California Law Review is committed to promoting diversity in our leadership and on our staff. It is the policy of the Law Review to encourage students of color, women, students in the LGBTQ+ community, students with disabilities, first-generation law students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and students who identify as being part of other traditionally underrepresented groups to join our staff and leadership. In addition, we are committed to the continual identification and breaking down of barriers to participation in our journal, particularly barriers that disproportionately impact students and authors from underrepresented groups. Our goal is for our membership to actively reflect the diversity of the USC Gould School of Law and the wider communities of which we are a part.
Law Review members are expected to promote our values of diversity and inclusion. The Law Review does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or disrespect.