Call for Submissions - Northern Kentucky Law Review Volume 53
General Issue Submissions
The Northern Kentucky Law Review invites scholars and legal practitioners to submit their original articles for publication in the General Issue of our 53rd Volume.
The Northern Kentucky Law Review accepts submissions on diverse legal topics from law school graduates in the United States and abroad. We are committed to providing authors with a personalized experience where you get to work hand-in-hand with our editors to ensure your paper is everything you want it to be.
Our editorial process features a professional due diligence service of cite checking, and we ensure each article we publish moves through two rounds of checks prior to final review by our executive staff. This comprehensive approach guarantees that published scholarship meets the highest standards of legal academia.
Symposium Issue: 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
The Northern Kentucky Law Review is pleased to announce our Symposium Issue commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Our symposium will occur on Friday, April 3rd, 2026.
The symposium will explore the legal, historical, and cultural legacy of the Declaration of Independence, examining its enduring impact on American constitutional law, civil rights, democratic governance, and national identity. Panel discussions and presentations will address topics such as the evolution of individual liberties, the role of founding documents in modern jurisprudence, comparative constitutional developments, and the continuing relevance of the Declaration’s principles in today’s legal landscape. The event will bring together leading scholars, jurists, and practitioners to reflect on 250 years of American legal history and the future of constitutional democracy.
This symposium will feature scholarship for publication in the Northern Kentucky Law Review's 53rd Volume and for presentation at the symposium event. More details regarding the symposium event will be provided if a submission is accepted for review.
Submission Guidelines
The Northern Kentucky Law Review accepts article submissions via Scholastica at [Scholastica link to be inserted] or via email sent to our Lead Articles Editor, Kendal Pickens, at pickensk3@mymail.nku.edu. When submitting via email, please attach the most recent version of your manuscript as well as a current resume or CV.
Manuscripts must be submitted by January 1, 2026, and final publication decisions will be communicated by January 31, 2026. The Northern Kentucky Law Review will communicate decisions on a rolling basis throughout the submission period.
Technical and Formatting Requirements
Formatting Standards: All submissions should be provided in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx) using standard academic fonts including Times, Times New Roman, or Courier. Manuscripts must be double-spaced throughout with 12-point font size.
Each article should include both an abstract and introductory section. Authors are encouraged to organize their work with clear, descriptive section headings and subheadings that guide readers through the analysis. While a table of contents may be helpful for longer pieces, it is not mandatory.
The Northern Kentucky Law Review does not impose length restrictions. Authors should use their professional judgment to determine the appropriate scope and length for their scholarly contribution.
Citation Standards: All citations must adhere to the current 22nd edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. Authors should use footnotes and should provide proper attribution for all referenced materials. Original analysis and author commentary need not be footnoted, but all factual assertions and legal authorities require appropriate sourcing.
Special Note on Cited Sources: The Northern Kentucky Law Review takes great pride in its editorial process, which primarily involves conducting thorough due diligence by reviewing each source cited in an article chosen for publication. To facilitate this process, all cited sources must be readily accessible via standard legal/academic research tools (court reporters, Lexis/Westlaw/InterLibrary Loan, HeinOnline, etc.).
Authors selected for publication must be prepared to supply those sources that are not available via standard legal/academic research tools. Authors selected for publication must cite to sources that are in English. For those sources that are not in English, the Author must be prepared to provide English translations. Articles may be precluded from publication if, in the Lead Articles Editor's due diligence, they find that an article's sources are either inaccessible, not offered in English, or that the Author is not able and/or willing to assist with providing sources in appropriate form.
For questions regarding submissions, please contact our Lead Articles Editor at pickensk3@mymail.nku.edu. We look forward to receiving your scholarly contributions to Volume 53 of the Northern Kentucky Law Review.