Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Florida, and Puerto Rico
June 29, 2015
Greetings!
Thank you for your interest in a position with the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice
(formerly SRBLSA Law Journal). Being a member of a law journal is an honor. Not only would you
personally benefit from your experience with the Journal, but you would also witness academia
embrace topics that deal directly with legal issues that affect the southern region. The Southern
Journal of Policy and Justice is published once a year and gives each student an opportunity to submit
an article to possibly be published. It affords students an opportunity to become intimately familiar
with the Bluebook®. Also, the research required in writing and editing will allow you to master
Westlaw®, LexisNexis®, and other sources, which makes you an invaluable asset to employers!
Finally, members of the law journal can highlight the significant academic distinction of being on a
law journal on their resumes.
The 2015-2016 Editorial Board Application consists of five (5) parts, each weighed to allow
selection of the best candidates for each position. Part I will include basic contact information. Part II
will include basic proficiency and qualification questions. Part III will include a bluebook proficiency
test. Part IV consists of the written portion of the application. Lastly, Part V will include an honor
pledge. If you are applying for the Marketing, Circulation or Symposium Executive position, you need
not complete Part IV - the writing portion.
Prior to September 20th, 2015, all applicants chosen for the Journal must submit a letter from
the president of his or her local BLSA chapter confirming their status as a dues paying member.
The application, released on June 29, 2015, must be completed and e-mailed to
srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org by July 24, 2015, 11:59 p.m. CST.
Included are a list of duties of the various positions, Frequently Asked Questions, and a copy
of the editorial flow chart so that you may get a clearer picture of how all the positions work together.
If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at
srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org.
We look forward to receiving your application, and Good Luck!
Kindest regards,
Corey Harris, J.D.
University of Mississippi School of Law, 2015 Juris Doctorate
Editor-in-Chief, Southern Journal of Policy and Justice, Volume IX
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DUTIES
Below is a detailed outline of the duties of each Editorial Board Position. Please note that this list is not
exhaustive. Positions with an * have been filled by previous journal members. Several seats are available for
different positions.
EXECUTIVE EDITORIAL BOARD
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) serves as a general figurehead and leader for the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice
(the “Journal”). The EIC shall arrange for the publication of the Journal, oversee the editorial process, schedule
and preside at all meetings and voting activity, and set goals and coordinate any Journal activities (including the
annual Editorial Orientation Program). The EIC shall oversee the solicitation of authors and members of the
editorial board, and extend offers of membership. The EIC shall also oversee the selection of the annual theme,
the selection of all topics and works to be published, and approve academic credit for work on the Journal. The
EIC is the primary liaison with the Faculty Advisor and Board, the Legal Writing Advisor, SRBLSA, NBLSA,
other regional BLSA journals, and the legal community. The EIC is the final arbiter of any disputes over
practices and policies of the Journal, and will notify editorial board members or authors of inadequate
performance. Finally, the EIC is the sole board member with the power to prepare the Journal’s budget, maintain
any financial records, enter into business transactions on behalf of the Journal and make disbursements of money
as necessary.
*EXECUTIVE EDITOR:
The Executive Editor shall assist the EIC in formulating policy, and preside in the EIC’s absence. The Executive
Editor is directly responsible for the technical accuracy of all materials published by the Journal. The Executive
Editor shall assist the EIC with the solicitation of authors and selection of all works to be published, perform all
preemption checks, and approve the selection of topics for student notes and comments. The Executive Editor
will oversee the publication of all abstracts on the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice website, and deliver the
abstracts to the Marketing Executive. During the final edit stage, the Executive Editor and EIC shall reedit each
work to be published.
EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR:
The Executive Managing Editor shall directly oversee the editorial process to assure the timely and efficient
publication of the Journal. The Executive Managing Editor shall supervise all Managing Editors, assign all notes,
comments and articles to a Managing Editor, set the production schedule, train Managing Editors and Senior
Editors, and oversee the technical aspects of the cite-checking process, typeset each work to be published, and
collate all articles and notes into final form. The Executive Managing Editor is responsible for all edits performed
by Managing Editors and Senior Editors. The Executive Managing Editor must also communicate any note and
article changes or inquiries to the author.
CIRCULATION EXECUTIVE:
The Circulation Executive is responsible for the general distribution and circulation of the Journal. The
Circulation Executive will work closely with the Marketing Executive to develop and implement circulation
strategies to promote an increase of readership for the Journal. The Circulation Executive will serve as the
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primary liaison with the publisher and printing press. The Circulation Executive will collaborate with the
Marketing Executive to generate an electronic format of the Journal. Finally, the Circulation Executive must
develop and maintain a database of all Journal subscribers as well as possible target audiences.
MARKETING EXECUTIVE:
The Marketing Executive is responsible for the general publicity of the Journal. The Marketing Executive will
generate all press releases on behalf of the Journal and deliver them to all appropriate media outlets. The
Marketing Executive shall maintain an active role in the solicitation of articles and notes, and work closely with
the Circulation Executive to promote an increase of readership for the Journal. The Marketing Executive shall
also oversee the development and maintenance of the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice website. The
Marketing Executive will work actively with the Editor-in-Chief and the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice
Alumni Network to generate funds for the Journal, as well as promoting the progress of the Journal among its
members. The Marketing Executive shall also plan and implement an annual fundraiser. Finally, the Marketing
Executive shall gather and convey feedback from the legal community as well as Journal members to be used to
improve the Journal.
SYMPOSIUM EXECUTIVE:
The Symposium Executive is responsible for planning, orchestrating, and facilitating The Journal’s annual
Symposium. The theme of the Symposium will be identical to theme of the Journal for a particular year. In
conjunction with the Editor-in-Chief, the Symposium Executive will work to secure a venue, ascertain a keynote
speaker, assemble a panel, organize published authors’ presentations, and all other incidentals involved with
hosting the Symposium. Because this Journal is for the Southern Region of NBLSA, the Symposium is held
during the annual SRBLSA Regional Convention, so that the members of the Southern Region can attend the
Symposium. The Editor-in-Chief will serve as a liaison between the Symposium Executive, and the SRBLSA
Executive Board for coordinating the Symposium as a part of the SRBLSA Regional Convention. This year’s
Symposium will be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on January 21-24, 2016.
EDITORIAL STAFF
MANAGING EDITOR:
The Managing Editor is responsible for all necessary structural edits of the works. The Managing Editor will first
make all necessary structural edits, and consult with the Executive Managing Editor if the author needs to be
notified. Once the Managing Editor makes all structural edits, he/she will then delegate portions of the note,
comment, or article to a team of Senior Editors for technical edits (i.e. Bluebook, grammatical, stylistic and cite
check edits). The Managing Editor will then compile the edits, and re-edit for accuracy and consistency, before
delivering the work back to the Executive Managing Editor. The Managing Editor will work alongside each
Senior Editor to ensure that each work is stylistically appealing and technically accurate.
SENIOR EDITOR:
The Senior Editor is responsible for ensuring that all citations within the Journal are consistent with the 19th
edition of the Bluebook Citation Guide. The Senior Editor is also responsible for ensuring that all articles and
notes within the Journal are consistent with English grammar and writing rules (refer to Strunk and White’s
Elements of Style). The Senior Editor must also work alongside the Managing Editor to ensure that each work is
stylistically appealing.
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DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
OF EDITORIAL BOARD
Serving on the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice Editorial Board is a privilege expectant with
responsibility. In addition to the specific duties assigned to each respective position, board members are expected
to comply with the general regulations of the Editorial Board. These obligations include:
1. Attend the Editorial Orientation Luncheon.
During the fall, the Journal hosts its annual Editorial Orientation Program (EOP), which serves as
the only physical meeting the Journal members will attend. All editorial board members are
required to attend. You may ask your school to assist with expenses; however the Journal will
not cover this cost. EOP serves as an introduction to the Journal, its overall mission, and the
editorial process. It is an opportunity for each editor to fully understand the importance of his role
and develop a sense of ownership in the Journal. The board is comprised of members from various
schools; thus, EOP fosters an opportunity for members to meet one another in person, unite and
bond. In addition, EOP will provide important training to all editors, confirming that the Journal
delivers a consistent and well-polished finished product.
2. Careful Attention When Editing.
This is the most important responsibility that an editor has. Editorial Board members have an
increased responsibility to not only be accountable for their reputation and expected level of
credibility, but also for that of the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice.
3. Write a Student note.
Each senior and managing editor will submit an article in the winter to the Editor-in-Chief for
possible publication in the journal. The student has great leeway in choosing a topic, but the Editorin-Chief must approve the topic. The Marketing Executive, Symposium Executive and Circulation
Executive are exempt from writing student notes, but may do so if they would like to be considered
for publication.
4. Comply with Strict Deadlines.
The most important duty of an editorial board member is strict adherence to all deadlines. Given
the extreme distance between Board members, organization and timeliness is critical to effective
operation of the Journal. Due to the nature of the editorial process, deadlines may be administered
on short notice. If a board member cannot meet a deadline, it is imperative that the conflict is
communicated to the Editor-In-Chief or direct supervising editor in a reasonable amount of time.
5. Participate in Conference Calls.
Occasionally, it will be necessary for the board to meet. Teleconference calls have proven the most
effective means for such meetings to be held. Board members will receive ample notice of the date
and time of proposed conference calls. All scheduling conflicts must be communicated and
approved by the Editor-In-Chief. Only urgent conflicts will be excusable.
6. Participate in Fundraising Activities.
The Journal operates on limited funds provided by SRBLSA and occasionally the sponsoring
institution. Hence, it is critical for the editorial board to organize and support fundraising activities
such as brainstorming fundraising ideas, hosting fundraising events at each member’s respective
school, operating any fundraisers at Regional or National Conferences, etc.
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7. Assist in Soliciting Authors.
The Journal strives to establish and maintain a presence in all markets of legal scholarship. In
order for this to be achieved, the advertisement of the Journal must saturate various fields. The
board is expected to assist in this effort by promoting the Journal at each member’s institution as
well as other professional circles.
8. Utilize the Current Editions of the Bluebook and Strunk & White’s Elements of Style.
In order for the Journal to achieve uniformity, only the 19th edition of the Bluebook Citation
Format and Strunk and White’s 1958 edition may be used for Journal submissions. All editors
must own a copy of the 19th edition of the Bluebook and the 1958 edition of Strunk and Whites.
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Editorial Process
SUBMISSION
Executive
Editor
Editor-in-Chief
Faculty Advisor
Executive
Managing
Editor
Author
Marketing
Executive
Managing
Editor
Senior Editor
Senior Editor
Senior Editor
Senior Editor
Managing Editor
Executive Managing
Editor
Executive Editor
Editor-in-Chief
Author
Final Proofread by
Executive Editor & EIC
Circulation Executive
PUBLICATION!
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Application Check List
1.
2.
3.
4.
Part I – Basic Contact Information
Part II – Qualifications
Part III – Bluebook Test
Part IV – Written Analysis- If you are applying for the Marketing, Circulation, or the Symposium
Executive position, you need not complete the writing portion.
5. Part V – Honor Pledge
Application Submission Instructions
Please submit your completed application packet electronically to:
srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org
8
Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Florida, and Puerto Rico
Editorial Board Application
2015-2016
This application is in Microsoft Word® format. As you enter information, please try to preserve the format of the
application; you may underline any information that you input in order to do so.
Note: This application is due by July 24, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
PART I
Date:
Type here
______________
Name:
Type here
Address:
Type here
If address is different for 2015-2016 academic year, please write current address here, and note new address in additional comments section
Type here
Type here
(city)
Email:
Phone:
Law School:
(state)
Type here
(zip)
Type here
Type here
______________________
(cell)
Type here
_______________________
(home or work)
Type here
Expected Date of Graduation:
Type
Spring 20 ______
Fall
Type
20______
Type here
Are you applying for a specific position on the Journal? If so, please list? _______________________
Note: If you are applying for the Marketing, Circulation, or the Symposium Executive position, you need not
complete part IV. Applicants for all other positions must complete the writing portion.
Fall 2015 Courses:
Attach a separate sheet if necessary.
(Example: 1. Constitutional Law, 3 credit hours )
1. _______________________________________
Type here
Type here
2. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
Type here
Type here
4. _______________________________________
Type here
5. _______________________________________
9
List all upcoming organizations and leadership roles for the 2015-2016 academic year:
Attach a separate sheet if necessary.
(Example:
1. President, Black Law Students Association)
Type here
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
Type here
Type here
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________
Type here
Type here
5. ____________________________________________________
PART II
Grade received in Legal Research and Writing
Current G.P.A.
Type here
_______________
Type here
______________
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being highest, how comfortable are you with Bluebooking?
Proficiency level: Microsoft® Word’s track changes feature:
Fair
Good
Type here
__________________
Excellent
Never used
Why are you the ideal candidate for the Journal? If you have applied for a specific position, please address why
you are a good fit for that particular position. (Attach a separate sheet if necessary)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Type here
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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PART III
BLUEBOOK TEST
Make corrections (if any are necessary) to the citations on this page. You may use ONLY the 19th edition of the
Bluebook (in print or online version) and word processor. Do not consult any other book, individual, or other
sources including, but not limited to LexisNexis, LexisNexis Advance, Lexis for Microsoft Word, Westlaw,
Westlaw Next or Google. The purpose of this exercise is to test your Bluebook skills.
1. Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (U.S. 1975)
2. See Lebron, 710 F.3d at 1214, citing Bumper v. North Carolina, 391 U.S. 543 (548).
3. Associated Problems of Justice John Marshall and Judicial Review, Angela L. Michels, 81 Columbia
journal of law and Social Problems, 852, 862-874 (1995) (discussing inter alia, habeus corpus and
certiorari issues on appeal).
4. Isanaka v. Spectrum Technologies USA, Inc., 131 F.Supp 2d 353 (N.D.N.Y. 2001).
5. Accordingly, The 5th circuit reversed the defendant’s conviction on Constitutional grounds.
6. State of Alaska v. Boceski, 53 P.3d 622 (Ind. Ct. App. 1980).
7. Lynard Skynard, Sweet Home Alabama (MCA Music Group). 1970.
8. State of Alabama v. Department of Energy, 531 U.S. 924 (2000).
9. Stephanie Mencimer, Have You Signed Away Your Right to Sue?, Mother Jones (March/April 2008),
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2008/03/have-you-signed-away-your-right-sue; See also, Lang v.
Burlington N. R.R., 835 F. Supp. 1104 (D. Minn. 1993).
10. 28 U.S.C. § 1291-1292 (2006).
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WRITING COMPETITION
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Your written legal analysis and complete application are due by July 24th, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
You may e-mail your note to the Editor-in-Chief at srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org. You may also mail
your packet to the address listed on the application.
2. Your legal analysis may be based on sources and research beyond what has been provided in this packet.
You may use legal research tools such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, or the Reporters. However, you may
NOT consult the assistance of another person. If you do, it will constitute a violation of your school’s
Honor Code. Aside from this packet, additional materials that you may use are the following: (1) a
current edition of the Bluebook; (2) Strunk and White’s Elements of Style; (3) Black’s Law Dictionary;
and (4) a dictionary. Please rely solely on Bluebook for the proper citation form.
3. Complete all the other parts of the application.
4. Non-Substantive Questions Only: If you have any non-substantive questions during the competition,
you may contact the Editor-in-Chief at srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org.
5. Honor Code: Upon completion of the writing competition portion of the application, please sign and
date the Honor Code statement, and note the number of pages of your note. If the Honor Code is
missing from your materials, you will be contacted immediately, and your application will not be
reviewed until you send it in.
6. Page Limit: Your note must be 8 pages minimum. Please limit your response to 10 pages doublespaced. The page limitations do not include endnotes; please do not count those toward the page
limitations.
7. Formatting: Please use 12- point font, Times New Roman. Please use 1-inch margins, and do NOT
alter the character spacing in your document. Please include page numbers. Use a standard brief outline:
introduction, facts, argument, and conclusion.
8. Style: Feel free to format your writing as a trial brief or memorandum. Please be sure that your writing
answers each call of the question.
9. IMPORTANT: In addition to your writing ability, the writing competition is designed to test your
ability to organize your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Be sure to take time to prioritize the issues,
and briefly discuss those that you believe are most relevant.
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Part IV: Write-On Analysis
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE
Dispatcher: Alice Hemp
Date: March
8, 2015
Time: 5:08pm
Dispatcher Transcript
[5:08:01pm]
Dispatcher: Hello, what is your emergency?
[5:08:25pm]
Anonymous Caller: There is a silver Camry that almost ran me off the road and is
swerving erratically down Jackson Ave. I’m pretty sure it’s Malcolm Hudson and his
wife, Kye Hudson. They both have on black and white. The car’s license plate is
SO34 something.
[5:08:59pm]
Dispatcher: May I have your name and location?
[5:09:19pm]
Anonymous Caller: Going east on Jackson Ave. They just left a bar – they’re drunk!
Please get them off the road before someone dies!
[5:09:31pm]
(Caller hangs up)
**Call Ends**
After receiving this tip, Alice Hemp radioed the information to all officers on duty.
Officer Kevin Maye was the first to respond. At that time, Officer Maye was patrolling on
Jackson Avenue. He spotted the vehicle almost immediately. He radioed dispatch and verified
that there was a silver Camry traveling east on Jackson Ave. Officer Maye also noted the
vehicle’s license plate number – SO4 34J. After pulling closer to the vehicle, he noticed two
persons in the vehicle and that the driver had on a black suit jacket with a white shirt underneath.
Officer Maye trailed the vehicle for 2-3 minutes but spotted no erratic driving. However, he did
notice an unknown object fly from the passenger side window of the sliver Camry.
The vehicle lawfully turned right on red at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and 3rd Street.
Noticing an empty parking lot on 3rd Street, Officer Maye turned on his siren and lights. The
vehicle turned into the parking lot where they yielded to authority.
13
Officer Maye stepped out of the police car and approached the silver Camry. Before Officer
Maye could speak, Kye Hudson, the passenger, spoke to the officer in a lucid tone. Mrs. Hudson
repeatedly apologized to the officer. She stated that the wind blew a napkin out of their car.
The officer noted a hint of alcohol on Mr. Hudson’s breath. However, he also noted that Mr.
Hudson’s eyes were clear and that his speech was not slurred. As for Mrs. Hudson, there was no
sign of intoxication.
Officer Maye informed the couple that an anonymous caller gave the dispatcher an informant’s
tip that led to their stop. Following that statement, he asked whether they knew of any
information regarding the accusation. The Hudson’s denied having any knowledge of the
alleged events. Then, the officer asked for Mr. Hudson’s license and insurance. Respectfully,
Mr. Hudson obliged. Their calm demeanor led the officer to form little suspicion of the couple’s
previous acts.
As Officer Maye walked to his squad car with Mr. Hudson’s information in hand, he heard a
faint thud from the ground. He immediately turned around, walked around the car, and noticed a
piece of paper near the passenger side of the vehicle. Without hesitation, Officer Maye collected
the paper. As the officer un-crumbled the paper, he found marijuana. Mrs. Hudson confessed
that it belonged to her before it was thrown away.
1. Discuss whether Malcolm Hudson’s constitutional rights were violated when Officer
Maye pulled the car over based on the informant’s anonymous tip. Include any
relevant policy issues surrounding those facts.
2. Discuss whether Kye Hudson’s constitutional rights were violated when Officer
Maye seized the crumpled ball of paper. Include any relevant policy issues
surrounding those facts.
14
PART V
HONOR & COMMITMENT PLEDGE:
By my signature, I understand that I am bound by the honor code of my law school and
infractions will be treated accordingly and reported to the Dean at my school. I pledge that all
information provided in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Additionally, I
pledge that I did not receive any unauthorized assistance in the completion of my Bluebook Test
or writing sample, from another person, book, or otherwise.
I have read the duties and responsibilities page, and, if I am offered and accept a position on the
Editorial Board, I agree to adhere to the list of duties attached. I understand that I am expected
to diligently perform my duties to the best of my abilities in order to preserve the integrity of
legal journalism.
Signature:
Type here
Print Name:
Type here
Date:
Type here
#
# of pages in your student note*: _______
*Please do not exceed ten pages
15
SRBLSA LAW JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD APPLICATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does the eight to ten page limit include endnotes?
No, it does not – the eight to ten page limit excludes endnotes, please do not count those as pages
toward the minimum or maximum.
If selected as a journal member, what expenses must I incur?
The only expenses that must be incurred by each individual stem from attending the mandatory
Editorial Orientation Program in the early fall. Also, many students have had success soliciting
funds from their home schools to support this endeavor. The orientation specifics will be
provided upon invitation to the journal. Thus, each student is only required to attend for part of
one day and may fly in and out that same day to conserve funds.
How should I cite to the Background Information pages?
Please cite accordingly to the pages as Background Information.
Currently, I am not a dues-paying BLSA member. How can I meet this requirement?
Contact your local BLSA President, and pay your dues for the 2015-2016 year by September
30th, 2015. Obtain a written confirmation, including the contact information of your BLSA
President, and submit to srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
No, there is no minimum GPA requirement. However, you must be in good standing at a BLSA
member law school within the southern region to become an editor. The GPA request on the
application is to help us in our application review process, but it is not dispositive.
I plan to study abroad next year. Can I still apply to be an editor?
We strongly prefer editors who will physically be in the southern region for the entire 2015-2016
academic year. However, we will still consider applicants who study abroad, but not for
executive-level positions. Applicants who study abroad should have access to email and phone
for periodic conference calls.
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I have committed to participate in a Moot Court/Oral Advocacy team or another law
review next year. Should I still apply to be an editor?
For the past few years, several SRBLSA editors participated in moot court and/or mock trial
teams and law reviews in conjunction to their commitments to the Journal. Excellent time
management skills are crucial if you choose this option. Take time to evaluate your
commitments next year to ensure that you can significantly and adequately contribute to
everything (including your schoolwork).
Do I need to cite to every source included in the writing packet? Will I be penalized if I do
not cite to everything?
A good brief does not have to cite to every source provided in the packet. Only use the materials
that you feel are relevant to your argument.
I emailed my application. Is there anything else I need to do? How can I confirm that it
has been received?
Upon receipt of your materials, you will receive an email confirming our receipt. If you do not
receive an email, we have not received your materials.
I turned in my application. When will I know if I have been selected?
Positions on the Journal will be offered around July 21, 2015 via e-mail.
My question hasn’t been answered here. Where should I turn for answers?
Please don’t hesitate to direct any and all questions to Corey Harris at
srblsa.chiefeditor@nblsa.org. He will respond to all emails within 24 hours (usually sooner).
Please do not ask your friend, your professor, or anyone else for answers. Doing so would
constitute a violation of your school’s Honor Code.
Also, please visit www.srblsalawjournal.org for further guidance. Under the Documents tab,
click on frequently asked questions for periodic updates.
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