Candidate Information
Candidacy Overview
Content:
A. GENERAL INFORMATION
B. LAW REVIEW IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM
C. THE FIRST YEAR (CANDIDACY PROCESS)
D. THE SECOND YEAR (BOARD MEMBERSHIP)
E. CONCLUSION
The Santa Clara Law Review is a legal periodical edited and managed by students of Santa Clara University School of Law. It is the only legal periodical on campus sponsored by the Santa Clara Law School Administration. The primary objective of the Law Review is to serve as an informational tool for practicing attorneys, members of the judiciary, legal scholars and law students. By presenting new and innovative approaches to the analysis and resolution of current legal problems, the Law Review serves to inform its subscribers of emerging legal trends and developments.
Each year, the Editorial Board publishes one volume (four issues) of the Law Review. Generally, each issue contains at least three student-written comments and several articles written by faculty members and practitioners within the legal community. By providing a quality resource to the legal community, the Santa Clara Law Review enhances the reputation of both the School of Law and its graduates.
Every law school throughout the nation has a law review journal in addition to other specialized legal publications they may produce. Because each school has only one law review, the journal has become an established institution that the legal community looks to with respect and reliance. At Santa Clara, the Law Review is currently on its 46th volume. The Santa Clara Law Review has a history of serving the legal community and providing student editors with the tools necessary to excel in the area of legal research and writing.
Membership on the Editorial Board involves a rigorous process, however, the academic and professional opportunities available to student-editors make the experience enjoyable and worthwhile.
B. LAW REVIEW IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM
Law Review is open to all full-time and part-time students who have completed their first year of law school and fulfilled the GPA requirement. Additionally, a part-time student can wait until the end of his or her second year to participate. Students who participate in the program spend their first year as a candidate and their second year as a member of the Board of Editors. The Law Review Board membership process is intended to be rigorous, yet attainable. With commitment and dedication, all interested students who meet the GPA requirement can participate in the program and still keep up with their academic commitments.
After successfully completing the candidacy program, each candidate becomes a member of the Board of Editors. Each member of the Board of Editors serves a one-year term and helps to publish four issues of the Law Review. Participation on Santa Clara Law Review is not only a rewarding and fulfilling educational experience, but it is also an invaluable tool for professional advancement. It is a proven tool for sharpening legal research, writing and analytical skills and affords a unique opportunity to work with legal professionals and faculty members.
In addition, students are able to receive up to seven (7) academic credits for their work on Law Review. Units are generally allocated as follows:
- Board Membership. Depending on the position that he or she is elected to on the Editorial Board, a student can earn up to 4 units of academic credit as a member of the Board.
- Independent Study. Furthermore, it is possible to receive as many as 3 units of independent study credit for writing and passing the comment.
- Those who are interested in independent study credit should speak with Brian Wikner (Editor-in-Chief) or Hilary Stevenson (Managing Editor) for more details.
Students who successfully complete the candidacy process and qualify to serve on the Board of Editors will be able to use their comment to fulfill the upper division writing requirement.
C. THE FIRST YEAR (CANDIDACY PROCESS)
During the first year of the Law Review program, a student participates as a "candidate." As explained in more detail below, to become a candidate, a student must write and successfully pass a "casenote." Once a student successfully passes the casenote, he or she will be considered a candidate for the Board of Editors for Volume 47. As a candidate for Volume 47, students will be expected to contribute to the production of Volume 46 of the Santa Clara Law Review. This contribution will principally be by way of "cite-checking" – checking each footnote of an article or comment for technical and substantive accuracy (the cite-checking process is described in detail below).
In addition, the principle objective for candidates seeking positions on the Board of Editors of Volume 47 of the Santa Clara Law Review is to complete and pass a "comment". Eventually, the current Board will interview and, thereafter, elect members for specific positions on Volume 47's Board. The members of the Board of Editors will then work collectively to edit and produce Volume 47 of the Santa Clara Law Review, which will include selected professionals in the legal community.
D. THE SECOND YEAR (BOARD MEMBERSHIP)
The second year on Law Review begins in April of the candidates second year of school (or 3rd year for part-time) and continues until the following April. Not only will the Board of Editors be responsible for publication of their volume, but also for supervising the candidate program for the next volume. As mentioned above, student editors can get up to 4 units for participation on the Law Review Board.
Despite what appears to be a rigorous candidacy process, Law Review membership is a realistic goal for any student who meets the GPA requirement and seeks to enhance his or her research and writing skills. Membership on the Law Review Editorial Board is a prestigious honor which results in the development of leadership, administrative, and organizational skills.
This Handbook is intended to give prospective candidates a broad overview of the Law Review and the Board membership process. If, after reading this Handbook, you have any remaining questions, please feel free to talk to any member of the Law Review Editorial Board or contact Jennifer Tse (jltse@scu.edu), Senior Comments Editor at (408) 554-4074.