Reasons to Write for the Journal

The Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy is one of two student run publications produced at Hamline University School of Law (HUSL). The Journal produces articles primarily relating to current legal issues concerning the interaction of law and public policy.

Two issues of the Journal are published each year. The Fall issue contains articles on a variety of public policy and legal topics. The Spring issue is a Symposium dealing with a specific topic selected by the Symposium Editor and the Board. Because HUSL is well known for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), every other year the Symposium topic relates to ADR. When not related to ADR, Symposium topics have ranged from “Law, Politics and Power” to “Election Law.”

Writing for a law school publication is one of the few opportunities a student has to research and develop a paper on a topic of interest to him or her. Writing for the Journal is creative and challenging, and to be selected to serve on the Journal is an honor.

Two Ways to Qualify for the Journal:

• Nomination:

Each legal writing instructor has the opportunity to nominate two students as an Associate on the Journal. The nomination process is confidential and students will not be notified whether they have been nominated. This means that if you would like to be sure to get on the Journal, you should try to write-on.

• Write-On:

Applicants must submit 9 copies of your policy argument, appellate brief, and personal statement to the Registrar's office by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2009.  Please also include a sealed envelope with contact information inside (to preserve anonymity during the selection process) so that we may open it to reach you if you are selected. 

Appellate Brief:

Applicants must submit their appellate brief at a length of 15-18 pages.

The appellate brief should contain a header on each page containing the student's final exam number with no other identifying marks (the selection process is anonymous).

The appellate brief should also contain (added if necessary) a public policy argument. Please highlight the public policy argument(s) by bolding their text.

Students may consult with their Legal Research and Writing instructors, however, the writing and content of the brief must be entirely the product of the student. The Appellate Brief will be judged on a number of factors, including the creativity and strength of the argument, thoroughness of research and analysis, clarity and organization of arguments, and finally attention paid to proofreading and citations.

Personal Statement:

All applicants to the Journal must submit a 750 word maximum personal statement explaining why they are interested in the Journal and how their personal experiences will contribute to the diversity of the Journal’s membership.

The personal statement should contain a header on each page containing the student’s final exam number with no other identifying marks.

Public Policy Problem:

Applicants must write a 1,500 word maximum policy argument based on problems that are available by CLICKING HERE**.

Contact information: 

Students should also include, in a sealed envelope, on an 8x10 piece of paper, how they may be contacted during the summer for prompt notification purposes. Contact information should include name, exam number, address, phone number, and email.