Eligibility for Journal Membership
Class Status
A student becomes eligible for membership on the International Law Review upon completion of twenty-nine (29) credit hours, entering his or her third or fourth semester (day student), or fourth or fifth semester (evening student). Students must also have successfully completed RWA I and II or their equivalent.
GPA
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75, as verified by the Registrar’s Office, is required to be maintained by all members.
Completion of the Write-On Competition
Students must complete the writing competition (detailed below) to be considered for membership. Upon successful completion of the writing competition and a determination by the Editorial Board, students become members in good standing of the International Law Review. Membership will take effect when the student’s acceptance of the Editorial Board’s offer of membership.
Contents of the Write-On Competition
The Note & Comment Editor and any other members delegated by the Editorial Board will research and prepare a Bluebook Test and a Write-On Paper topic. Instructions and materials to complete the writing competition will be included in a competition packet for distribution. The writing competition will consist of, but is not limited to:
Bluebook Test
The test will consist of questions testing the latest edition of the Bluebook.
Write-On Paper
The original paper may only be written using only the provided topic and research materials. The paper must consist of no less than 2900 words excluding endnotes, be double-spaced, and include no less than 50 endnotes. All margins must be one inch and all documents must be in WordPerfect or Microsoft Word format in a twelve (12) point Times New Roman font.
a. The top twenty percent (20%) of the first-year class (29 credits completed), as determined by the Registrar, may be waived from submitting a write-on paper.
b. The Editorial Board has the discretion to accept papers written for any alternate journal writing competitions.
Write-on Competition Deadlines
Deadlines for submitting the Bluebook Test and Write-On Paper will be set by the Note & Comment Editor. These deadlines will be made available to students upon registering for the writing competition.
Write-On Competition Distribution and Submission
Competition packets will be available in the Journal office or at a website or other digital source on the first day of the competition period. Competition packets must either be returned to the International Law Review office or post marked by 5:00PM (EST) on the last day of the competition period.
Membership Determinations
Grading the writing competition will be conducted anonymously in accordance with criteria determined by the Notes & Comment Editor. The Editorial Board will then determine membership based on the writing competition, other membership requirements pursuant to these By-Laws, and applications made under exceptional circumstances. All decisions of the Editorial Board are final.
Exceptional Circumstances
In demonstrated cases of unusual or exceptional circumstances and where there is a unanimous vote of the Editorial Board, the minimum membership requirements stated in these By-Laws may be waived upon a written request for such a waiver by a write-on applicant. This request should indicate the nature and details of the circumstances so as to permit the Board to make an informed decision with regards to the request.
For additional information, please refer to the JIL By-Laws (last updated Jan. 31, 2009).
