Guide for Authors

Thank you for considering the Utu Journal of Legal Studies (UJLS) for your scholarly work. Please adhere to the following guidelines to ensure a smooth submission process:

1. Scope of Submissions

UJLS welcomes original research articles, case studies, review articles, and book reviews in all areas of law. Submissions must not have been published or submitted elsewhere.

2. Language

All submissions must be in clear and concise English. Authors should use professional legal terminology and avoid excessive jargon.

3. Formatting Requirements

  • Document Format: Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) format.
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point size for the main text, and 10-point size for footnotes.
  • Spacing: Double-spacing for the main text; single-spacing for footnotes.
  • Margins: 1-inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
  • Length:
    • Research Articles: Up to 8,000 words (including references).
    • Case Studies and Reviews: Up to 5,000 words.
    • Book Reviews: Up to 2,000 words.

4. Citation Style

UJLS requires authors to follow the APA 7th Edition Citation Style, with DOIs included where applicable. Below are examples:

Journal Articles

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxxx

Books

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxxx

Book Chapters

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the chapter. In E. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxxx

For more examples, refer to the APA Publication Manual (7th Edition) or visit APA7 Guide.

5. Abstract and Keywords

  • Provide an abstract of 150–250 words summarizing the manuscript.
  • Include 3–5 keywords relevant to the manuscript’s content.

6. Submission Process

  • Submit manuscripts electronically via the journal’s portal at Submission.
  • Include a cover letter with the manuscript title, author details, and a statement confirming the manuscript's originality.

7. Review Process

All submissions are subject to a double-blind peer-review process. Ensure that the manuscript is anonymized before submission.

8. Ethical Standards

Authors must adhere to ethical research practices, avoid plagiarism, and disclose any conflicts of interest.

Plagiarism Policy

UJLS maintains a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Manuscripts are subject to plagiarism checks, and submissions found to have a similarity index greater than 15%, or more than 3% from a single source, will be rejected.

  • AI-generated content must be disclosed. Any AI-generated content within a manuscript should not exceed 5% similarity or *.
  • Authors are required to ensure proper citations and references for all external sources used.

Submissions must be original and properly cited to ensure compliance with our ethical standards.

9. Copyright and Licensing

UJLS operates under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), allowing unrestricted use and distribution with proper attribution.

10. Post-Acceptance

Accepted manuscripts will undergo editorial revisions, and proofs will be sent to authors for final approval before publication.

 

For further inquiries, contact us at .