IN BRIEF SUBMISSIONS

Virginia Law Review In Brief is the Virginia Law Review's exclusive online publication. In Brief features short essays and responses by law professors, judges, practicing lawyers, scholars from other disciplines, and current law students.

We welcome any submission that would meaningfully contribute to academic legal discourse. Submissions may respond to the articles, essays, and book reviews that we publish in both our print edition and In Brief. Submissions may also explore new ideas that are unrelated to our print content, or comment on legal issues that are of current interest.

Submissions selected for publication will undergo an expedited editing process. Publication occurs in as little as one month after finalizing and receiving first drafts of the pieces for an issue.

Length: In Brief essays and responses are lightly-footnoted pieces of 3,000 or fewer words. In order to increase readership and accessibility, we prefer pieces written in a newsmagazine opinion/editorial style.

Format: We only accept electronic submissions to In Brief. Submissions should be sent by e-mail to lawrev@virginia.edu in Microsoft Word format. The subject line of the email should read "In Brief Submission." Submissions should be in Times 11 or a larger sized font, should utilize footnotes instead of endnotes, and should have numbered pages. All submissions must include:

1. a cover letter, which should prominently feature the following:
   
   
   • the title of the manuscript,
   • an e-mail address (Note: We will not acknowledge receipt of submissions without an e-mail address),
   • a mailing address,
   • a daytime telephone number,
   • a word count for the manuscript (including footnotes).
   
   
   
2. a brief abstract (under 250 words) on a separate page, and
   
   
3. a copy of the manuscript.

Resumes and other biographical information are optional.

Timing: The best times to send submissions are between late February and mid-April and between mid-August and mid-October. We will consider submissions over the summer (from late May until mid-August).

Expedited Review Process: We consider expedite requests during the school year, but not over the summer. Expedites should either be sent via e-mail to lawrev@virginia.edu or via phone to 434-924-3079 (e-mail is preferred). An expedite request should include: the author's name, e-mail address, and daytime telephone number; the date by which an answer is required; and the name of the journal that has offered publication. Although we make every effort to review expedited material, we cannot guarantee a reply given the high volume and rapid turnover of submissions.