The phrase, used in the context of legal scholarship, refers to the practice of providing pre-publication peer review of law review articles. This process involves submitting a draft manuscript to subject-matter experts for evaluation and feedback prior to its official publication in a law review journal. An example of its implementation would involve a professor specializing in constitutional law reviewing an article on the First Amendment submitted to a prominent law review.
This peer review methodology can enhance the quality and credibility of legal scholarship. Its implementation allows for the identification and correction of errors in analysis, argumentation, and citation. Historically, law reviews were primarily student-edited, but the incorporation of expert review addresses concerns regarding the depth of specialized knowledge required for evaluating increasingly complex legal topics. The increased rigor can lead to a higher level of scholarly discourse within the legal community.
