Guidelines for submissions to the Print Journal are described below, with article submission and student submission guidelines described separately. Guidelines for submitting to the Online Journal are located here.
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS:The Harvard Human Rights Journal publishes an annual print issue consisting of a range of original scholarly works covering a wide spectrum of international and domestic human rights issues of contemporary relevance. We encourage submissions of well-written and original works from legal and academic scholars as well as from human rights practitioners. (Please note, guidelines for student submissions are listed at the end of this page.)
Submission Guidelines
- Length Limitations: We strongly prefer article submissions that are between 10,000 and 25,000 words in total length, including text, footnotes, and appendices. Except in extraordinary circumstances, we will not publish articles exceeding 35,000 total words.
- Citation Format: Please use footnotes rather than endnotes. Footnotes should comply with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st ed. 2020).
- Language: Although we recognize that human rights is an international field, we only publish pieces in English.
Instructions: We ask all submissions to be submitted electronically and in Microsoft Word format. We strongly prefer for articles to be submitted through Scholastica.
If financial or other extenuating considerations preclude you from submitting through Scholastica, we will also accept articles submitted as email attachments to hlshrj@mail.law.harvard.edu, with a subject line beginning with “Print Submission” and including the author’s name.
Review Process: Submissions are accepted from January through August of each year. All submissions that meet our criteria will be thoroughly reviewed on a rolling basis. We kindly ask that you do not send emails inquiring into the status of your submission. If a submission is selected for publication, we will contact you.
STUDENT SUBMISSIONS:
The Harvard Human Rights Journal publishes a diversity of student-written contributions. Current or recent law students are encouraged to submit recent work, related to human rights, for consideration. We typically consider three types of student writing.
Submission Guidelines
- Length Limitations: Except in extraordinary circumstances, we will not publish articles exceeding the limitations below, which include text, footnotes, and appendices.
- Notes: Similar to an article in content and style, but limited to a total length of 10,000–15,000 words.
- Comments: Commentaries on recent court cases or legislative developments, limited to a total length of 2,500–5,000 words.
- Book Reviews: Review of a recent and relevant book, limited to a total length of 1,000–2,500 words.
- Citation Format: Please use footnotes rather than endnotes. Footnotes should comply with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (20th ed. 2015).
- Language: Although we recognize that human rights is an international field, we only publish pieces in English.
Instructions: If you are a student at Harvard Law School, please submit your writing directly to hlshrj@mail.law.harvard.edu with a subject line beginning with “HLS Student Submission.” If you are a student at another law school, please submit your writing through Scholastica if you are able to; otherwise please use hlshrj@mail.law.harvard.edu and in both cases indicate that the piece is a student submission.
Review Process: Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis. All submissions that meet our criteria will be reviewed thoroughly. We kindly ask that you do not send emails inquiring into the status of your submission. If a submission is selected for publication, we will contact you.