Student Writing

The journal publishes pieces that address a broad range of gender-related topics. Recent articles have considered the merits of a professional ethics rule banning attorney-client sexual relations, the correctness of a controversial child custody determination, the historical treatment of women by the tort system, and the effectiveness of anti-stalking laws.

Below is a description of the types of student writing and a list of past topics. Authors are also encouraged to choose their own topics. Case notes or student comments should be approximately 15 - 30 pages in length and book reviews should be between 10 - 15 pages. The journal is currently accepting submissions. Pieces should be submitted to:

Harvard Journal of Law & Gender
Harvard Law School
Student Journals Office
1541 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

Over the summer, submission by e-mail to hlsjlg@law.harvard.edu is preferred.

Case Notes provide an analysis of a recent court decision, usually either a U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or state Supreme Court opinion. Pieces should include a summary of the case’s facts, a description of the court’s holding, a positive or negative critique of the court’s reasoning or holding, and reflections on the implication of the decision. Case Notes also may provide a similar description of recent national or state legislation.

Student comments typically provide well-rounded analysis of a controversial or current topic. Authors should provide background on the subject, present a theoretical or practical problem with the area of the law, analyze the debate surrounding the topic, and conclude with recommendations or an alternate perspective on the subject. Examples from recent issues include: Miriam Cherry, Note, Not So-Arbitrary Arbitration: Using Title VII Disparate Impact Analysis to Invalidate Employment Contracts that Discriminate, 21 Harv. Women's L.J. 267 (1998); Jennifer L. Bradfield, Note, Anti-Stalking Laws: Do They Adequately Protect Stalking Victims, 21 Harv. Women's L.J. 229 (1998); and Dan Gatmaytan, Note, Death and the Maid: Work, Violence, and the Filipina in the International Labor Market, 20 Harv. Women's L.J. 229 (1997).

Book reviews should evaluate the quality, interest, and relevance of a recent publication. Although most reviews analyze legal scholarship, reviews of other feminist scholarship or writings also may be possible. Generally, book reviews begin with an introduction that evaluates the overall effectiveness of the text. Next, the author provides a critical summary of the book’s content, often using selected quotes to illustrate points. The review then considers the shortcomings of the book, how the work fits into the larger world of writings on the subject, and concludes with a recommendation/perspective on the book’s merits. For an example, see Robin E. Ridler, Book Note, 21 Harv. Women's L.J. 341 (1998) (reviewing Paula Sharp, Crows over a Wheatfield: A Novel (1996)).

Please contact Sally Wagner-Partin or Beth France to submit pieces or to receive further information.