1. Journal Orientation & Vision
Legal Spectrum Journal (“LSJ”) is a bi-annual, peer-reviewed law and policy journal with a strong research, reform, and think-tank orientation. The Journal seeks to bridge academic scholarship with policy impact by publishing doctrinal, empirical, and interdisciplinary research that contributes to law-making, regulatory reform, judicial reasoning, and public discourse.
LSJ positions itself as a platform for:
- Advanced legal research and policy analysis
- Interdisciplinary scholarship engaging law with technology, economics, governance, and society
- Evidence-based policy recommendations and regulatory critiques
2. Editorial Structure
The Journal functions through a multi-tier editorial system aligned with international academic standards.
2.1 Editorial Board
- Editor-in-Chief
- Managing Editor(s)
- Executive Editor(s)
- Section Editors (Articles, Case Comments, Policy Papers, Book Reviews)
2.2 Advisory Board
The Advisory Board comprises academicians, senior legal professionals, policy experts, and subject-matter specialists who provide strategic guidance and ensure academic credibility.
2.3 Editorial Independence
All editorial decisions are taken independently and free from external influence. Acceptance or rejection of manuscripts is based solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and contribution to scholarship.
3. Peer Review Policy
3.1 Review Model
Legal Spectrum Journal follows a Double-Blind Peer Review Process, ensuring that:
- Reviewers do not know the identity of the author(s)
- Author(s) do not know the identity of the reviewer(s)
This model ensures objectivity, fairness, and academic integrity.
3.2 Review Stages
Stage I – Editorial Screening (Desk Review)
- Relevance to journal scope
- Originality and novelty of research question
- Compliance with submission and formatting guidelines
- Basic language and structural clarity
Manuscripts failing this stage are desk rejected.
Stage II – Peer Review
- Manuscripts are evaluated by subject-matter reviewers on:
- Depth of research and analysis
- Methodological soundness
- Contribution to legal or policy scholarship
- Quality of arguments and conclusions
- Use of sources and citations
Stage III – Revision & Final Decision
- Authors may be required to revise manuscripts
- Final acceptance is subject to satisfactory incorporation of reviewer comments
3.3 Review Timelines
- Review and editorial decision typically completed within [____] working days, subject to revisions and complexity of the manuscript
4. Editorial Policy
4.1 Originality & Exclusivity
- Submissions must be original and unpublished
- Manuscripts must not be under consideration elsewhere
- Authors must submit a declaration confirming originality and exclusivity
4.2 Anonymity Policy
- Manuscripts must be anonymised
- Author details must be provided only in a separate cover document
4.3 Language & Quality Standards
- Submissions must be in clear, formal academic English
- Editors reserve the right to make minor language and formatting corrections
4.4 Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or institutional conflicts of interest that may influence the research.
5. Research Ethics & Misconduct Policy
5.1 Plagiarism
- All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening via Turnitin
- Plagiarism beyond 10% (excluding references and quotations) will result in rejection
5.2 Data Integrity
- Empirical or data-driven research must clearly disclose methodology and sources
- Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of data is strictly prohibited
5.3 Authorship Ethics
- All listed authors must have made a substantial academic contribution
- Ghost authorship and honorary authorship are prohibited
6. Think-Tank & Policy Research Orientation
LSJ actively encourages submissions that:
- Propose legal or regulatory reforms
- Critically analyse existing laws and policies
- Provide comparative and international perspectives
- Engage with contemporary governance challenges
6.1 Preferred Manuscript Types
- Policy Papers
- Regulatory Impact Assessments
- Law & Technology Research
- Comparative Constitutional and Administrative Studies
- Data Protection, Competition, AI, Telecom, Media, and Platform Regulation Research
6.2 Policy Impact
Selected manuscripts may be:
- Highlighted as Policy Briefs
- Shared with policymakers, think tanks, and research institutions
- Featured in special issues or symposium editions
7. Copyright & Licensing Policy
- Copyright of published manuscripts vests with Legal Spectrum Journal
- Authors may reproduce or share their work with due acknowledgement to LSJ
- LSJ retains the right to archive and disseminate content digitally
8. Open Access Policy
Legal Spectrum Journal follows an open-access publication model, ensuring free and unrestricted access to scholarly content for readers worldwide.
9. Indexing & Academic Alignment Strategy
LSJ aligns its editorial and publication standards with requirements followed by:
- UGC-CARE (Group II readiness)
- Scopus-indexed journals (best practices)
- SSRN & institutional repositories
9.1 Compliance Measures
- Clear peer-review disclosure
- Transparent editorial policies
- Regular publication schedule (bi-annual)
- Strong research ethics framework
- International and interdisciplinary scope
10. Disclaimer
The views expressed in published manuscripts are solely those of the author(s). Legal Spectrum Journal does not endorse or assume responsibility for any opinion expressed.
The Journal reserves the right to withdraw or remove content that violates ethical, legal, or academic standards.
11. Submission Procedure
Manuscripts must be emailed to: legalspectrumlawjournal@gmail.com
Subject Line: Paper Submission – [Category]
Each submission must include:
- Manuscript (anonymised)
- Cover Letter (separate document) containing:
- Author(s) Name
- Institutional Affiliation
- Academic Year/Designation
- Email ID
- Contact Number
- Declaration Form confirming originality and exclusivity of submission
If unable to access the declaration form, authors may contact: legalspectrumlawjournal@gmail.com