(2) What if I’m not interested in practicing Aviation Law, International Law or Technology Law?
No big deal. It is not a requirement of any of these journals that you swear an oath to practice law in any one of these areas. However, you should understand that you will be required to edit articles and write on topics in this area of law. You may come away from the experience more convinced that you have no interest in that area of the law, or you may be surprised by how much you like Aviation/International/Technology law. In fact, these journals generally cover broad legal areas that may touch on more of your interests than you expect.

(3) What will I be required to do when I’m on law review?
In addition to attending orientation and regular meetings, every journal requires their staff members to perform three basic tasks: a casenote, a comment, and citechecking. While the requirements vary from one journal to the next, a casenote is generally a 10-12 page article, usually due mid-fall semester, that focuses on the impact of a recent judicial opinion or legislative action. A comment is a much longer (length varies between journals) and more in-depth article on a particular issue of law. A final draft is usually due early-to-mid-spring semester. Students have some discretion in choosing their casenote and comment topics, as long as it falls within the parameters of their particular journal, and each journal publishes some of their best student articles each year. Throughout the year, staff members are required to perform citechecks on articles that have been chosen to be published in their journal. Students review the writer’s sources, check the accuracy of the writer’s citations, and edit the article’s content.

(4) How will I benefit from being on law review?
You will gain valuable experience, broaden your understanding of the law, and improve your research and writing skills. In addition, law review participants receive 3 hours credit in their first year, 2 hours in their second year of participation, and the admiration of their peers. Law Review can also provide invaluable opportunities in your search for summer and/or permanent employment.

(5) Is the Write-On Competition an anonymous process?
Yes. Participants’ names are kept anonymous until selections are made. The names of those who are not selected remain anonymous in perpetuity.

(6) How are write-on memos evaluated?
Each association will receive an anonymous copy of the student’s memo, citation exercise and editing exercise. They will independently evaluate the entries based on writing ability, facility with the legal issues, editing ability, and citation accuracy. The emphasis given to each factor is entirely up to the individual associations.

(7) Can I be selected for more than one journal?
Yes. Each journal independently evaluates each memo and makes their own decisions concerning offers. In this way, each participant has three chances to be selected to a journal. In the past, it has not been uncommon for selections among the three associations to vary substantially.

(8) If I don’t write-on, can I try again next year?
Absolutely. Rising 2Ls and 3Ls are eligible to participate in the competition.