About Us
The American University Law Review is the oldest and largest student-run publication at American University, Washington College of Law. Each year, the Law Review publishes approximately 1,500 pages of provocative legal scholarship in six bi-monthly issues. About 100 students, invited to the Law Review for demonstrated editing and academic success, coordinate all editing, managerial, and publication functions. Each Law Review edition is distributed nationwide and abroad to law school libraries, private law firms, public legal organizations, and individual subscribers.
The Law Review receives approximately 2,500 submissions from outside authors each year and publishes articles from professors, judges, practicing lawyers, and other prominent legal and political figures. In addition to articles that represent the Washington College of Law's scholarly dedication to legal theory and international human rights law, the Law Review has published the work of authors writing on a broad range of contemporary topics. For example, Volume 56 published articles on the Title VII anti-retaliation provision; higher education tax subsidies; eminent domain; agency theory; minority investor protections; and the insanity defense. The Law Review has published articles and oral opinions by Supreme Court Justices Hugo L. Black, Warren E. Burger, Earl Warren, Arthur J. Goldberg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and William Rehnquist, as well as articles by prominent legal figures, including Professors Laurence Tribe, Burt Wechsler, Edward J. Imwinkelried, Senator Robert C. Byrd, Ralph Nader, and Tom Goldstein.
The Law Review is also the only journal in the nation to publish annually an issue dedicated to decisions of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals regarding patent law, international trade, government contracts, and copyright law. Open discussion with Chief Judge Michel regarding critical issues in the Federal Circuit have allowed the Law Review to make this yearly publication accommodating, educational, and highly regarded among academics and practicing attorneys in these areas of interest.
The Law Review typically sponsors one symposium each year. The range of topics covered by Law Review symposia is diverse. Past symposia have addressed Internet copyright piracy, the intersection of genetic science and intellectual property law, legal and ethical issues after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, students' rights to equal educational opportunities, bankruptcy reform, and distributive tax policy. In conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union, Volume 57 of the Law Review is hosting its symposium on the balance between national security and First Amendment rights. The symposium, entitled, Left Out in the Cold? The Chilling of Speech, Association, and the Press in Post-9/11 America, took place on September 20-21, 2007, and featured prominent panelists in the fields of constitutional law and national security from academia, private practice, and government service. Click here for more information on this year's symposium, as well as webcasts of each panel presented.
This online version of the Law Review debuted with Volume 45. Law Review publishes concurrently in traditional paper form and on the Internet.
