Call for Submissions

The Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés publishes online articles on a rolling basis, including responsive “Letters to the Author.” Each Spring, the Journal re-publishes around five (5) of these articles in a print journal. These five articles will ideally be divided as such:  

1. Two (2) to be primarily authored by Legal “Insiders” (legal faculty and/or practitioners, generally), 
2. One (1) to be primarily authored by a Law Student,  
3. Two (2) to be primarily authored by Legal “Outsider(s),” at least (1) of whom is directly System-Involved (legal workers, criminalized peoples, and legal clientele, generally). 

Additionally, while we actively seek strong and passionate voices which have been often rejected by the “old guard” of legal academia, we more importantly seek to publish harmonious and considerate voices. We do not seek to publish vitriol, or hate for hate’s sake. Therefore:

• We evaluate concerns of an “angry” voice through the lens of Audre Lorde’s classic text, “Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism.” 
• We evaluate concerns of a “profane” and/or “indecent” voice through the lens of Audre Lorde’s classic text, “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power” and Professor Patricia Williams’ “Death of the Profane (a commentary on the genre of legal writing).” 

Submission Details

The Journal accepts submissions for online publication on a rolling basis. Only articles submitted before February will be considered for print publication in our Spring edition.

There are no formalistic requirements to submit to the Journal (i.e. a minimum number of citations, word count, or experience in legal practice). The only requirement is to respond to the submission question, which is: Why has this piece been rejected, or why would it be likely to be rejected, by traditional legal journals?  

Authors can choose to publish anonymously or under a pseudonym; however, the author’s identity must be disclosed to Journal editors. 

Submit your work to NLJR via our Google Form or through Scholastica.

Design Our Cover Contest

Every year, we hold a contest to design the cover of our Spring print journal. Submissions should be 8 x 10 inches, include the title (“Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés”) and edition (“Spring 2022”), and be in the spirit of our Journal’s mission. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis until April 2023.  

Have an idea? Submit your proposal(s) here.

Questions? Email us at nljr@law.northwestern.edu.