Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Mitchell Hamline Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice

Write-On Directions

Instructions for Write-On Applicants

You are invited to write-on to the Law Journal of Public Policy & Practice! We are seeking writing and editing associates for the 2024-2025 Journal. Law Journal’s associates work hard to produce the highest quality of legal publication available on topics relating to legal practice, legal issues faced by the public, and legal policy solutions.

Please fill out the Vol. 46 Write-On Interest Form to indicate your interest in receiving write-on materials for the Journal.

Important Dates

  • April 24, 2024: Write-On Information Session, 6:00 p.m.
    Zoom link: https://mitchellhamline.zoom.us/j/92099523738
    Meeting ID: 920 9952 3738
  • May 17, 2024: Sign-Up Deadline for Receiving Write-On Materials
  • May 18, 2024: Write-On Process Begins
    1. Complete a Bluebook citation worksheet
    2. Submit a LARC memo, Advocacy brief, or other writing sample
    3. Policy or practice problem (only needed for writing associate positions, not editor positions)

Want More Information?

Good luck with finals, stay safe and well!

The Journal selects approximately 8-10 new associates each year through this write-on process. There are two different types of associates on Journal. Most associates are writing associates.

  • Writing associates are eligible for 2 credits throughout the year and will be required to write an article and support Journal with citation checks.
  • Editing associates are eligible for 1 credit throughout the year and will not be required to write an article but will support Journal with citation checks and content editing.

WRITE-ON SUBMISSION COMPONENTS:

1. Public Policy or Practice Problem: Submit a 3-5 page paper on an issue pertaining to any of the categories of public policy and practice.

  • Papers should use the provided template (will be emailed with the Bluebook worksheet).
  • Include footnote-style citations to support your argument.
    • You are encouraged to use your sources creatively.
    • Most successful submissions will have five or more sources.
    • You may use periodicals, legal journals and articles, Internet sources, and any other forms of authority as found in the Bluebook.
  • The Editorial Board will judge papers based on, creativity, content, organization, persuasiveness, and other criteria.
  • You will be allowed to use your write-on submission as the basis for your article, but you are not required to do so.

2. Bluebook Worksheet: Complete the Bluebook citation worksheet provided.

  • The worksheet will be provided via email, in a word document. Please track changes before you correct each citation to comply with Bluebook rules (20th edition).
  • There will be 7-10 basic citations that need varying levels of correction.

3. Trial-Level Brief: Submit a trial-level brief. You may use a brief written for a WRAP or Lawyering class.

  • Your brief should contain a public policy argument. Please highlight the public policy argument(s) in yellow.
  • If you are using a brief that does not contain a policy argument as written, please add a policy argument.
  • The brief will be judged on a number of factors, including the creativity and strength of the argument, thoroughness of research and analysis, clarity and organization of arguments, and attention to proofreading and citations.

EXAMPLE OF A POSSIBLE WRITE-ON TOPIC

(do not use this topic)

The Public Costs and Benefits of International Economic Sanctions

International economic sanctions are coercive measures taken by one or more countries toward another country to force it to comply with international norms. Economic sanctions can take many forms, including trade embargoes, restrictions on imports and exports, denial of access to loans, and the denial of foreign assistance. Economic sanctions are one of the primary tools the United States uses in international relations. Many hail economic sanctions as an important nonviolent tool for influencing the actions of another country. Economic sanctions allow one country to coerce another country while avoiding the horrors of war.

However, economic sanctions damage the economy of the targeted nation, often increasing poverty and even starvation among the targeted nation’s public. The poor and vulnerable in the targeted nation receive the most damage, while the leaders and wealthy elite face minimal consequences. Should the United States continue its frequent use of economic sanctions to further its interests by nonviolent means, despite the costs imposed on the targeted nation’s public?

Possible Resources:

The following report provides an overview of the costs and benefits of the United States’ use of economic sanctions against a particular country:

  • The Iran Project, Report: Weighing Benefits And Costs Of International Sanctions Against Iran, 46 (2012), available at http://www.paaia.org/CMS/data/sites/1/pdfs/Iran-Sanctions-Cost- Benefit.pdf.

You may also wish to skim the following journal articles for more information:

  • Justin D. Stalls, Economic Sanctions, 11 Miami Int’l & Comp. L. Rev. 115, 155 (2003).
  • Michael P. Malloy, Human Rights and Unintended Consequences: Empirical Analysis of International 
Economic Sanctions in Contemporary Practice, 31 B.U. Int’l L.J. 75, 122 (2013).