Posted by Eugene Volokh:
Law Review Submissions Policy:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_12_30-2008_01_05.shtml#1199338802
An articles editor for a Top 20 law review writes:
I have for some time been thinking that it would be best to simply
eliminate accepting paper copy submissions for [our law review].
The online system we primarily use (and where we receive the vast
majority of our submissions) is far superior to paper copies.
Indeed, the only thing that paper copies do from my end is give me
more tedious work that cuts into the substantial time I must give
to other editing responsibilities, as I must log each submission my
hand. It does so while giving authors no benefit that I can see.
I thus see no point to paper copies. They only add work for
absolutely no benefit. I hear, however, that some professors
actually prefer sending paper copies. The only halfway decent
justifications I have heard are (1) that they can send a
personalized cover letter via mail (this justification makes no
sense as our online system allows for the submission of cover
letters); and (2) that authors think they have a better chance of
getting their submission promptly reviewed because the editor who
reviews paper submissions will give them a quick look when logging
them into the law review's system. This latter explanation is at
least plausible, but my experience is that this gives the author no
advantage over online submissions, as I and other editors do the
same thing with online submissions.
I write to ask for your help. I would like more information on this
issue from professors. As your blog is read by a wide array of
professors, I was wondering if you could put a post on your blog
asking professors to comment on this issue, so I and others can get
better information.
A good question; what do our law professor readers think?
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