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Journal Publishing

Anna Riddell-Roberts

Managing Editor

International and Comparative Law Quarterly

@iclqˍjnl

British Institute of International and Comparative Law

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Outline

Journal or book chapter?
Which journal?
How to write a good article
The importance of introductions
How to submit your article
The peer review process
What happens next?
Open Access and Open Research

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1. Journal or Book Chapter?

Better indexed, count higher in research assessments of universities, easier access often

Consider, if:

Editor/Publisher good, or invited to contribute to high-level book

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Journal

Book Chapter

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2. Which journal?

Check ranking
Where do colleagues publish?
Refereed vs Non-refereed
General/specialist?
How good is your piece?
What is your reason for publishing?
Be aware of sole submission requirements

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(This one!)

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3. How to write a good article

Preliminary Q – sole/co-authored?
Single research Q
Care with quotations
Title
Present all sides
One para, one point
Structure
Footnotes
Clarity

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4. The importance of introductions

Abstract v Intro

A = what it is about and the main point, approx. 200-300 words

I = set up literature review, research Q, structure etc, 400-700 words

‘Martini glass’ Introduction Formula

General intro to subject, placing it in context
Identify the specific issue
Explore existing literature (briefly) but point out gap, which aims to fill by:
Research Question
Brief mention of methodology and structure
Simple statement of thesis

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5. How to submit your paper

Check submission requirements online, e.g. https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/iclq

Before you click submit ensure you have met every requirement:

Length – do not go over or under, check total with footnotes
Style – MUST conform to house style
Include what is asked - and ONLY what is asked
Correct format - pdf/MS word
Possible referees - feel free to suggest referees if asked

Once submitted, BE PATIENT! (If deadlines, ask BEFORE you submit)

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6. Peer review process

Assistant Editor checks
Forwards to EIC with peer reviewer recommendations
Sent to peer reviewers (external and sometimes internal Ed Board members)
Reviews returned
Editorial Discussion based on reviews
Decision

Reject–obvious

Reject and invitation to resubmit–DO! Make ALL changes

Accept with Mandatory revisions–In, needs mandatory work

Accept with Minor revisions–Suggestions, best to do them!

Straight accept–rare!

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7. What happens next?

Publishing process

Editorial comments
Proofs – Only for checking mistakes in typesetting, DO NOT make changes to phrasing or add new cases/argument.
Apply for Gold OA if applicable
Publication (online/print/both)

Post-Publication

Disseminate your paper:

Institutional repository
SSRN
Scholarly research networks
Social Media
Email

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8. Open Access and Research

Green Open Access

Allows a version to be freely accessible in a repository (institutional or subject), usually not the final version. Minimum requirement of many research funders, and all academic journals have a GreenOA policy.

Gold Open Access

Final version made available under Creative Commons. Alternative to subscription model, funded by article processing charge (APC).

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HYBRID: Subscription journals which also offer Gold OA via an APC

Open Access is more than just ‘free’ access.

Open Access is only a part of the broader aim of Open Research. Ways to engage:

• Sign up for ORCID

• Choose journals with OA possibilities, use Gold OA if you have funding

• Use a recognised repository if you want to make an early version available

• If article based on data, make it available in a data repository

• Make use of social sharing functionality and promote your article

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Questions?

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a.riddell@biicl.org

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P. Samuelson ‘Good Legal Writing: Of Orwell and Window Panes’ 46 U Pitt LRev 149 (1984)

S. Murumba ‘Good Legal Writing: A Guide for the Perplexed’ 17 Monash ULRev 93 (1991)

E. Volokh ‘Writing a Student Article’ 48 J Legal Educ 247 (1998)

British Institute of International and Comparative Law