Duke Law School Academic Journals and Law Reviews
Duke Law School maintains a robust ecosystem of legal scholarship through the publication of eight academic journals and law reviews. These publications serve as critical platforms for legal analysis, ranging from student-led reviews to faculty-edited interdisciplinary forums, contributing significantly to the global legal discourse.
The school is a recognized pioneer in the movement toward open access—the practice of providing free, unrestricted online access to scholarly research. In 2005, Duke Law was featured in the unveiling of the Creative Commons Open Access Law Program for its leadership in making legal scholarship accessible to the public.
Key Facts
- Duke Law publishes eight distinct academic journals.
- Law and Contemporary Problems is the oldest journal, established in 1933.
- The school provides free online access to all journals dating back to January 1996.
- The Alaska Law Review is published via a special agreement because Alaska has no law school.
- The Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy has been discontinued as of Volume 27 (2019-2020).
Overview of Law School Publications
The journals at Duke Law vary in their editorial structure and focus. While many are student-edited, others are faculty-led or focused on specific niche intersections of law and society.
Foundational and General Interest Journals
Law and Contemporary Problems (L&CP) stands as the oldest publication at the school. Unlike traditional law reviews, it is faculty-edited and follows a quarterly symposium format, focusing each issue on a single topic of contemporary concern. This is complemented by an annual conference featuring the authors of the year's symposia.
The Duke Law Journal was the institution's first student-edited publication. It focuses on general legal interest, publishing articles from leading scholars in the field.
Specialized and Regional Publications
In a unique arrangement with the Alaska Bar Association, Duke publishes the Alaska Law Review. Because the state of Alaska lacks its own law school, Duke students regularly travel to Anchorage and Juneau to collaborate with Alaska Supreme Court justices, native justice leaders, state legislators, and local policymakers.
The Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law and the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum further expand the school's reach into global and ecological legal frameworks.
Technology, Policy, and Constitutional Law
The Duke Law & Technology Review, established in 2001, examines the evolving intersection of law and technology. Along with the Environmental Law & Policy Forum, it is a non-exclusive journal, meaning students may join it in addition to other exclusive journals.
The Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy was founded by the Class of 2006, with Professors Erwin Chemerinsky and Christopher H. Schroeder serving as the first faculty advisors. To maintain timeliness, the journal partners with the Duke Program in Public Law to produce "Supreme Court Commentaries" that analyze the impact of recent cases. It publishes annually in print and continuously online.
Summary of Duke Law Journals
| Journal Name | Focus/Specialization | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Law and Contemporary Problems | Interdisciplinary/Contemporary Issues | Faculty-edited; oldest journal (1933) |
| Duke Law Journal | General Legal Interest | First student-edited publication |
| Alaska Law Review | Alaska State Law | Partnership with Alaska Bar Association |
| Duke Law & Technology Review | Law and Technology | Non-exclusive membership |
| Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy | Constitutional Law & Public Policy | Produces Supreme Court Commentaries |
| Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy | Gender Law | Discontinued (Vol. 27) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can the public access Duke Law journals?
The law school provides free online access to all its academic journals. Full texts dating back to January 1996 are available in searchable HTML and PDF formats, with new issues posted online simultaneously with their print release.
What is the difference between exclusive and non-exclusive journals at Duke Law?
Non-exclusive journals, such as the Duke Law & Technology Review and the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum, allow students to join them while also participating in one of the school's exclusive journals.
Why does Duke Law publish a review for the state of Alaska?
Duke publishes the Alaska Law Review through a special agreement with the Alaska Bar Association because the state of Alaska does not have its own law school.
Which journal is the oldest at Duke Law?
Law and Contemporary Problems is the oldest journal, having been established in 1933.
Is the Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy still active?
No, the Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy was discontinued as of Volume 27 during the 2019-2020 academic year and no longer publishes new articles.