Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines: "The Journal of Law, Society, and Religion"

"The Journal of Law, Society, and Religion" welcomes original, unpublished manuscripts that contribute significantly to the interdisciplinary study of law, society, and religion. Please read these guidelines carefully before submitting your manuscript. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected.

1. General Information & Scope

  • Journal's Focus: "The Journal of Law, Society, and Religion" publishes scholarly articles that explore the intricate relationships and interactions between legal systems, societal structures, and religious beliefs/practices. We encourage interdisciplinary approaches from fields such as Law, Sociology, Political Science, Religious Studies, Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Theology, and related disciplines.
  • Types of Submissions: We primarily accept original research articles. We may also consider review articles or book reviews by invitation or specific call for papers.
  • Language: All submissions must be in English.
  • Originality: Manuscripts must be original and not previously published or concurrently submitted for consideration elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism: The journal employs plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate). Any instances of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will result in immediate rejection.

2. Manuscript Preparation

2.1. Manuscript Formatting

  • File Format: Submit your manuscript as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).
  • Font: Use an easily readable font such as Times New Roman, 12-point size.
  • Spacing: Double-space the entire manuscript, including footnotes, references, and appendices.
  • Margins: Set all margins (top, bottom, left, right) to 1 inch (2.54 cm).
  • Page Numbers: Number all pages consecutively, starting from the title page.
  • Word Count:
    • Research Articles: Typically between 8,000 – 10,000 words, including footnotes but excluding abstract and references. Longer manuscripts may be considered if justified by the content, but please contact the editorial office beforehand.
    • Book Reviews (by invitation/specific call): 1,500 – 2,000 words.

2.2. Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts should be organized as follows:

  • Title Page (Separate File for Double-Blind Review):
    • Full title of the manuscript.
    • Author(s) full name(s) and institutional affiliation(s).
    • ORCID ID(s) (if available).
    • Corresponding author's full mailing address, email address, and phone number.
    • Any acknowledgements or funding information.
  • Main Manuscript File (Anonymized for Double-Blind Review):
    • Title: Full title of the manuscript (same as on the title page).
    • Abstract: A concise summary of the article, typically 150-250 words. It should state the purpose of the research, methodology, key findings, and main conclusions.
    • Keywords: 5-7 relevant keywords that accurately reflect the content of the article.
    • Main Body:
      • Introduction: Provides background, outlines the research question/problem, states the thesis/argument, and briefly summarizes the article's structure.
      • Literature Review: Critically discusses existing scholarship relevant to the topic, identifying gaps that your research addresses.
      • Methodology: Clearly describe the research design, data collection methods, and analytical approaches used.
      • Findings/Analysis: Present your research findings and provide in-depth analysis.
      • Discussion: Interpret your findings in relation to existing literature and your research question(s).
      • Conclusion: Summarize the main arguments and findings, discuss the implications of your research, and suggest avenues for future research.
    • Appendices (if any): Should be placed after the main text and before the references.
    • References: List all cited works according to the specified citation style (see Section 2.3).

2.3. Citation Style

  • "The Journal of Law, Society, and Religion" primarily uses the Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition), Notes and Bibliography system.
  • Footnotes: Use footnotes for citations (not endnotes). Footnotes should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript.
  • Bibliography: Provide a complete bibliography at the end of the manuscript listing all cited works alphabetically by author.
  • Examples:
    • Book:
      • Footnote: 1. John Witte Jr., Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment, 3rd ed. (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2012), 150.
      • Bibliography: Witte, John, Jr. Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment. 3rd ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2012.
    • Journal Article:
      • Footnote: 2. Robert A. Burtchaell, "The Decline and Fall of the Christian College," First Things, no. 12 (April 1991): 30–38.
      • Bibliography: Burtchaell, Robert A. "The Decline and Fall of the Christian College." First Things, no. 12 (April 1991): 30–38.
    • Chapter in an Edited Volume:
      • Footnote: 3. Peter Berger, "The Desecularization of the World: A Global Overview," in The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics, ed. Peter Berger (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999), 1–18.
         
      • Bibliography: Berger, Peter. "The Desecularization of the World: A Global Overview." In The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics, edited by Peter Berger, 1–18. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.
         
         
  • Legal Citations: For specific legal citations (cases, statutes, regulations), please refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (latest edition) or a similar widely accepted legal citation guide, ensuring consistency throughout the manuscript.

3. Submission Process

  • Online Submission System: Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal's online submission system (e.g., OJS platform). Please register an account if you do not have one.
  • Required Files:
    • Title Page (separate file): As described in Section 2.2.
    • Main Manuscript File (anonymized): The full manuscript text, abstract, keywords, and references, with no author-identifying information. Ensure that any self-citations are made in a way that does not reveal your identity (e.g., "In my previous work (Author, Year)..." rather than "In Smith (2020)...").
    • Cover Letter: A brief letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief stating that the manuscript is original, has not been previously published, and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. It should also briefly outline the significance of the research.
       
  • Peer Review Process: All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Please refer to our "Peer Review Process" section on the journal website for more details.
  • Timeliness: Please respond promptly to any queries from the editorial office or reviewers.

4. Ethical Considerations

By submitting a manuscript to "The Journal of Law, Society, and Religion," authors confirm that:

  • Research Ethics: If the research involves human subjects, data collection, or interviews, authors must confirm that ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee, and that all ethical guidelines (e.g., informed consent, privacy) were followed.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Any potential conflicts of interest (financial, professional, personal) must be declared in the dedicated section on the title page.
  • Authorship Contribution: All listed authors have significantly contributed to the research and manuscript, and all have approved the final submission.
  • Data Availability: Authors are encouraged to make their data (where appropriate and ethically permissible) publicly available or to be prepared to provide it upon reasonable request.

5. After Acceptance

  • Copyright: Authors will be required to sign a Copyright Transfer Agreement. The specific terms will be provided upon acceptance.
  • Proofs: Authors will receive galley proofs for final review. It is the author's responsibility to carefully check for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. Only minor corrections are permissible at this stage.
  • Open Access (if applicable): Information regarding Open Access options and associated Article Processing Charges (APCs), if any, will be provided upon acceptance.

6. Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding these guidelines or the submission process, please contact the editorial office at:

[email protected]