Prospective Members

What is the Whittier Law Journal?

The Whittier Law Journal is an Honors Organization and publishes one of the school’s two major legal analysis publications. The Whittier Law Journal publishes the Whittier Journal of Child & Family Advocacy which creates national recognition for Whittier Law School.In its fifth seventh year of publication, the Law Journal focuses on scholarly research and writing, and provides students with a phenomenal opportunity to develop the research skills critical to practicing law and saving time uncovering relevant legal material.

Why Should I Join the Whittier Law Journal?

  • Being a member of the Law Journal provides several benefits:
  • Develop the extensive research and meticulous writing skills critical to practicing law
  • Receive the distinctive honor of working on a nationally recognized law journal.
  • Receive one un-graded unit per semester towards graduation,
  • Opportunity for publication in an upcoming edition.
  • Ability to apply for positions on the editorial board upon successful completion of membership requirements.

How Do I Apply?

Each Fall and Spring semester, the Law Journal holds new member information sessions. Watch notices posted on campus to announce these session. You may also stop by the Journal office next to Room 2 for more information.

May I take the Journal for Semester Units?

  • Absolutely. Members of the Journal are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Law Journal for units each semester throughout their membership. Junior and Senior members are eligible to take the Law Journal for 1 unit each semester, while editors are able to enroll in the Law Journal for 2 units. It is a great way to add units towards graduation.

h3, What are the Grade Requirements to Join?

There are three ways to gain membership to the Law Journal:

  • Option 1: Grade-On: Students must have at least an 83 cumulative G.P.A. to automatically gain Membership in the Whittier Law Journal. Transfer students are eligible for membership with an 83 cumulative G.P.A.
  • Option 2: Legal Skills Grade-On: Students must have at least an 86 in their first-year Legal Skills course, or a first-and-second year cumulative Legal Skills grade of 86, to gain automatic membership, as long as their overall cumulative G.P.A. is 80 or higher.
  • Option 3: Write-On Competition: All students who are ineligible to grade-on must participate in the write-on competition, provided they have an overall cumulative G.P.A. of 80 or higher. The write-on competition is open to all students in good academic standing.

NOTE: All applicants must have completed at least 19 units, and have at least two semesters remaining at Whittier Law School.

How Does the Write-On Competition Work?

  • The write-on competition requires candidates to draft a 5-page memo on a legal topic and is designed to gauge a candidate’s abilities in legal writing, analysis, and citations format. It must be completed by all candidates in good academic standing who are ineligible for grade-on consideration.
  • The memo should follow the procedural format taught in the first year Legal Skills courses, and all citations should comply with proper Blue Book format (however, all case names should be italicized rather than underlined).

Do You Need Any Particular Expertise in Child or Family Law in Order to Join?

  • No. Membership on the Journal is open to all students in good academic standing, regardless of their career focus. Candidates should focus primarily on citations/writing quality and research skills.

What are the Time Requirements in Joining the Law Journal?

  • The first week of membership, all new members are required to take part in our “Orientation Week.” Candidates will then be required to complete cite-checking assignments throughout the semester, which should take approximately 5-8 hours a week. For the month prior to finals, junior candidates will focus exclusively on completing atheir research article. This can be a time-consuming, but if planned for appropriately, it can be completed with minimal disruption to one’s scheduleand with. plenty of time to prepare for finals!

How do I get my research paper published in the Law Journal?

  • If your article is of a publishable quality as determined by our evaluation board, then we will be happy to consider your work for an upcoming edition!

What are the differences between the Law Journal and Law Review?

  • The Law Journal and the Law Review are separate publications here at Whittier Law School. Both publications are Honors Organizations, and have grade-on options and write-on competitions,. However, they have different policies and publication schedules… While Law Review publishes a wide variety of work, the Law Journal is more of a specialty publication, focusing on child and family issues.

How difficult is it to become an Editor?

  • Candidates must first successfully complete the curriculum as Candidate/Jr. Member. Once you become a Senior Member, you are eligible to run for an editorial position, as long as you have at least two semesters remaining. All editorial positions are selected through an election process.

Do Employers look at Law Journal Membership?

  • Absolutely. Membership on the Law Journal probably be one of the first topics they mention on your resume. Law Journal membership helps distinguish applicants as having advanced research and an extensive knowledge of citation format: two vital aspects of professional-quality legal writing.