The ITMU Law Review, published by the School of Law at ITM University (now The NorthCap University, Gurgaon), has issued a formal Call for Papers for its inaugural Issue I/1. As a bi-annual, peer-reviewed legal publication, the journal provides an academic forum for legal scholars, practitioners, judges, and law students to publish critical research, interdisciplinary analyses, and commentary on contemporary legal developments. This announcement outlines the scope of contributions, category-specific word limits, editorial standards, and formal submission procedures.
About ITMU Law Review: Scope, Aims, and Scholastic Objectives
The primary aim of the Call for Papers ITMU Law Review is to promote rigorous, interdisciplinary research on cutting-edge issues spanning constitutional law, commercial jurisprudence, criminal justice reform, international trade, and technological regulation. The journal seeks manuscripts that combine rigorous doctrinal analysis with practical perspectives on contemporary legal debates in India and comparative jurisdictions.
The targeted readership includes members of the bar and bench, legal academicians, policy researchers, and advanced law students. By creating an open platform for critical inquiry, the Law Review aims to bridge the gap between academic research and courtroom advocacy, contributing to the evolution of statutory interpretation and jurisprudence.
Editorial and Peer Review Policy
The journal adheres to a strict editorial policy designed to ensure that published manuscripts meet international standards of academic integrity and scholarly excellence. Every submission undergoes an initial editorial screening followed by double-blind anonymous peer review conducted by subject-matter experts. The peer-reviewed law journal call for papers process evaluates manuscripts based on originality, depth of legal analysis, methodology, clarity of argument, and contribution to existing scholarship.
The Editorial Board retains final discretion regarding the acceptance, conditional revision, or rejection of submitted manuscripts. Authors may be requested to incorporate reviewer feedback before final publication acceptance is confirmed.
Submission Categories and Permissible Word Limits
The journal invites contributions across four primary categories, each tailored to distinct modes of legal scholarship and analysis. Contributors must ensure their manuscripts comply strictly with the prescribed law review article word limit and Bluebook citation rules:
Long Articles and Scholarly Papers (7,000 to 8,000 words)
Long articles are expected to provide detailed, in-depth analyses of specific legal doctrines, legislative frameworks, or complex systemic issues. Authors must thoroughly examine existing statutory provisions, judicial precedents, and international comparative models, proposing structured reforms or novel conceptual frameworks. All word counts are inclusive of footnotes.
Essays and Short Doctrinal Commentary (3,500 to 5,000 words)
Essays offer focused, provocative engagements with contemporary legal problems, challenging established paradigms or evaluating emerging judicial trends. Essays may adopt an argumentative or theoretical stance, presenting concise yet rigorous explorations of legal concepts without the exhaustive historical review characteristic of long articles.
Case Comments on Landmark Judicial Decisions (Up to 3,000 words)
Case comments entail critical evaluations of recent judicial pronouncements from the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, or international tribunals. Authors must contextualize the decision, assess its legal reasoning, evaluate its impact on statutory doctrine, and identify unresolved questions created by the ruling. Under journal policy, law student case comments submission is actively encouraged in this category.
Legislative Comments and Statutory Critiques (Up to 3,000 words)
Legislative comments analyze newly enacted statutes, pending legislative bills, or regulatory control orders. Submissions must dissect the policy background, statutory drafting, constitutional implications, and potential practical challenges associated with enforcement.
Formatting, Abstract, and Bluebook Citation Requirements
Manuscripts must strictly adhere to the standardized legal journal submission guidelines India requirements established by the Editorial Board:
- Citation Style: Citations must conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (19th or 20th Edition). Speaking or substantive footnotes are generally discouraged.
- Abstract: Submissions must be accompanied by a concise abstract of not more than 100 words summarizing the research question, methodology, and key conclusions.
- Typography and Layout: The main text should be in Times New Roman, Font Size 12, with 1.5 line spacing. Footnotes must appear in Times New Roman, Font Size 10, with single line spacing.
- File Format: Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format. PDF submissions will not be accepted for review.
Originality Guidelines, Plagiarism Policy, and Author Anonymity
The ITMU Law Review maintains zero tolerance for academic dishonesty and plagiarism. Manuscripts must represent entirely original work and must not be published or under concurrent consideration by any other journal, book, or online repository. Any detection of uncredited borrowing will result in immediate disqualification.
To preserve the integrity of the double-blind peer review system, manuscripts must contain no identifying references, such as author names, institutional affiliations, acknowledgments, or contact information within the body text or footnotes. All author details must be submitted in a separate covering letter.
Legal writing ethics and institutional governance principles are central to academic culture, as seen in controversies covered in Unethical leak allegations force NLU Delhi team to recuse from Oxford Price moot qualifier and university administration standards discussed in Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala Vs. Dr. Tresa Radhakrishnan. Prospective authors seeking institution-specific guidelines may visit The NorthCap University Law School Portal.
Electronic Submission Procedure and Key Deadlines
Contributors must submit their manuscripts electronically via email with the subject line formatted as "SUBMISSION FOR ITMU LAW REVIEW". The email should include the manuscript file and the separate covering letter containing author credentials, institutional designation, mailing address, contact number, and email id.
Authors must ensure that manuscripts adhere to academic legal research writing guidelines before transmission. Submissions should be emailed to the designated editorial addresses (ilr [at] itmindia [dot] edu with a copy to the faculty editor). Authors will receive an acknowledgment of receipt within seven working days, followed by formal notification regarding the outcome of preliminary editorial screening and peer review.