Peer review process

The Dundee Student Law Review operates a three-stage process for reviewing submissions we receive. All submissions are anonymised throughout the editing process. The Editor-in-Chief briefly checks the general coherence of the submission's argument before continuing. 

First stage

Selected works are passed to copyeditors for preliminary checks (grammar, syntax, and overall structure of papers is reviewed). Once completed, the papers get passed back to the Editor-in-Chief, who then goes over suggested amendments and discusses the details with authors, where necessary. 

Second stage

Where certain pieces only have minor amendments, they will then begin the second stage of the review process. These papers go through a review with selected Academic Advisors (Dr Lorna Gillies, Dr Alexander Simmonds, and Hannah Mimiec). Where certain papers require major structural amendments or additional sourcing, they will be returned to authors before they start the second stage. 

Our reviewers focus on the content of the submissions. This is to ensure that the information is up to date and accurate. Additionally, our editors focus on the analysis and discussions in the paper to ensure the submission is a useful contribution to the scholarship in the area the essay concerns.

Third stage

Finally, papers may also go through a second run through with copyeditors before being passed to our solicitor peer reviewers, who have a background/specialise in the areas of law covered for this issue. The Editor-in-Chief then combines works and does a final review before the Law Review is read for digital publication. Authors will be sent the final version for approval and/or suggestions.  Once final version has been approved by authors, changes cannot be made.