A law review is a student-run academic journal that publishes original writing on legal topics. These can include essays, case analyses, or other forms of methodological research that examine how the law works and is applied. Law review articles center on a question about the law and then use structured methodological analysis to come to an answer. These papers are meant to focus on novel topics, meaning that they identify a gap in current research/analysis and employ tactics to fill that gap. Unlike a paper for a class, law review papers are not written for a grade; they’re written with the intention of being read by a wider audience, including fellow students, professors, and legal professionals.

While the overlap between law and political science is large, it is worth noting that these areas of study are not the same. In terms of academic research, legal research and political research both ask differing questions and use differing tools to come to an answer. Political science research might ask why a law exists, explore social or political forces shaping the law, or examine the effect of a law or legal process on society. This kind of research tends to rely on data (surveys, demographics, public records) as well as historical analysis and theory. Legal research, on the other hand, explores what the law actually says, how it has been interpreted, and how it applies or should apply to a given set of facts. Legal research tends to rely on statutes, precedent, cases, and doctrine as opposed to outcomes or trends. If you're not sure which category your topic idea falls into, reach out before you apply — we're happy to help you sharpen the angle.