A Tradition of Excellence: The Iowa Law Review's Mission and Future

• Author: Volume 100 Editorial Board
• Pages: 881-884

A Tradition of Excellence: The Iowa Law Review ’s Mission and Future Volume 100 Editorial Board Whether reflecting on the beginnings of the Iowa Law Review 100 years ago or looking to the journal’s promising future, one thing has and will continue to hold true: its tradition of excellence. As the Law Review continues to celebrate its Centennial Volume, the Volume 100 Editorial Board wanted to expound upon this tradition and, perhaps more importantly, the ideals that make the tradition possible at all: the Law Review ’s tripartite mission, to “[t]each essential analytical and writing skills to students”, “[p]ublish legal research for the advancement of the law and society”, and “[s]erve as a window on the quality of the Iowa Law School. 1 While the mission is rarely discussed aloud, Law Review members have always displayed its tenets, and it is a faith to this mission that promises another century of excellence. I. TEACHING ESSENTIAL ANALYTICAL AND WRITING SKILLS TO STUDENTS For 100 years, the Iowa Law Review has been a valuable outlet for University of Iowa College of Law students to learn and teach editing, writing, and analytical skills beyond the scope of the traditional classroom setting. For decades, the Law Review ’s deep commitment to publishing student-written work has not only advanced the mission of the Law Review and the broader College of Law, but has also advanced legal scholarship and thought. It is esteemed publications and organizations, like the Law Review , that shape the legal landscape and prepare future lawyers to thrive in the ever-changing practice of law. The student writer program enhances writing, research, and analytical abilities through the note-writing process and projects that involve students in all stages of the publication system. As students develop their Notes and practice the legal research and writing necessary to complete that process, they also gain exposure to a broad array of stimulating ideas through their contributions to the Law Review ’s publication process. Through the Note-writing process, Student Writers learn fundamental legal skills. From topic 1. Willard L. Boyd & Randall P. Bezanson, Iowa Law Review Centennial: Its Mission, History, and Future , 100 IOWA L. REV. 455, 455 (2015). 882 IOWA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 100:881 selection to final draft submission, Student Writers must think critically, research fully, and write clearly. Through extensive edits, repeated proofreading, and the selection of Notes and...