Law Text Culture
Information for Guest Editors
The Role of the Guest Editors
Guest editors are responsible for the scholarly shape of the special issue, and take responsibility for obtaining contributions to be included in the issue, including both scholarly and creative content (the latter in consultation with the managing editor). Articles might be sourced through an open Call for Papers, or convening workshops, symposia or conferences around the theme of the volume. Open invitations to submit will be publicised on the Law Text Culture website and through networks selected by the guest editors. If guest editors draw on other means by which contributions are solicited, there will be no publicity on the Law Text Culture website.
All scholarly articles are subject to double-blind independent peer review arranged by the guest editors, irrespective of the means by which articles are sourced. They also need to conform to the Law Text Culture style guide. Guest editors liaise with the managing editor about issue length and the length of articles. Creative contributions (visuals, art, creative writing, including cover images) will be considered by the guest editors in consultation with the managing editor. Guest editors and contributors need to obtain all relevant copyright clearance or licences for material that exceeds standard scholarly quotes and references, for images, and creative contributions. Editors need to advise contributors that they agree to licence the reproduction of their scholarly or creative contributions in print and electronic form, including databases, by the publishers of Law Text Culture.
Length and Shape of Issue
While there is flexibility built into each issue, Law Text Culture generally includes up to 10 peer-reviewed articles of around 8000 words per article (including endnotes and references). In addition, there are usually around two other forms of writing, ranging from creative pieces to personal reflective pieces, and visual art, either included as a standalone element of the collection, or embedded within the peer review articles.
Within this range, some issues have included fewer articles of longer lengths, and others included more articles that will be shorter in length to accommodate the extra articles. Within this range, articles should be no shorter than 6000 words and no longer than 10,000 (including references). Variations in the number of creative pieces and the size and scope need to be discussed with the managing editor.
Time Frames
| Year Before Publication | |
|---|---|
| 1 May | Proposals from guest editors to be submitted to Managing Editor |
| 1 July | Applicants advised of outcome. |
| August | The successful proposal and guest editor/s will be published on the Law Text Culture website. |
| The guest editor/s will begin process of seeking submissions for the special issue. This process will have been set out in the proposal. | |
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| September | Guest editors use the period of publicity or the other means by which articles are to be collected eg symposium, conference |
| October | Potential authors provide abstracts to guest editor/s regardless of the process by which submissions have been sought. |
| November | Guest editor/s select abstracts for invitation to submit articles. Articles are to be submitted to guest editors by 1 February of the year of publication. |
| Year of publication | |
|---|---|
| February | Selected authors submit articles to guest editors |
| Mar-April | Review Process. Guest editors send referees reports to M.Ed and select creative pieces and visuals in consultation with M.Ed including possible cover image. |
| May | Guest editors contact authors with outcome of review process; Guest editors in consultation with authors seek permissions to reproduce any material that may need specific clearances. |
| June-July | Authors submit revised articles to guest editors; guest editors organise for copy editing. |
| August | Copy editor revisions to authors for approvals. |
| September | Guest editors pass final drafts to Managing Editor. |
| October | Managing editor sends articles to printery; authors to receive page proofs for final check. |
| Nov – Dec | Printers return copies to managing editors, who arrange distribution. |