Recruitment and Selection

Recruitment for Editorial Board positions takes place at least once a year, with positions being advertised throughout the UNSW Faculty of Law. Applications are invited from students who have completed the first year of an undergraduate combined law degree, or the first semester of a graduate degree in law. Positions on the Editorial Board are highly sought after and the number of applicants often greatly exceeds the number of positions available.

Selection criteria include:

Appointment as a member of the Editorial Board is highly regarded both within the Faculty of Law and by the wider legal profession.

Members of the Editorial Board may nominate for election to the Executive Committee of the Law Journal. The Executive Committee comprises one Executive Editor, two General Issue (and Forum) Editors, and one Thematic Issue Editor. Appointment to one of these four senior editorial positions earns academic credit equivalent to that of one full elective law subject, acknowledging the significant commitment required from each Editor.

For Board members wishing to make a greater contribution to the affairs of the Law Journal without standing for election as a senior Editor, there is an opportunity to assume responsibilities as either Production Editor or Book Review Editor. Production Editors and Book Review Editors may earn academic credit equivalent to that of half an elective law subject.

Once a student is on the Editorial Board they do not have to reapply - they are automatically a member for the remainder of their law degree, or until they voluntarily leave the board. In exceptional circumstances a board member may be asked to leave. The UNSW Law Journal expects all Board Members to contribute to each publication during their time on the board.

How to apply

If you meet the above requirements, please keep an eye out for posters and emails advertising our recruitment drives. You will then need to do the following:

  1. EMAIL us a copy of your CV and academic transcript (copied and pasted from MyUNSW) by the advertised cut off date. We also need a cover letter explaining why you want to be on the Editorial Board of the UNSW Law Journal and what you can offer to the board.
  2. If your written application is deemed satisfactory by the Executive Committee, you will be provided with an editing exercise that you must complete according to the instructions provided. Sample editing exercise instructions may be found here, but will vary from year to year.
  3. Applicants with satisfactory editing exercises then proceed to the third stage of recruitment, an interview with at least two members of the UNSW Law Journal Executive Committee.
  4. Once the interview is completed, your application will be reviewed by the Executive Committee. The names and brief profiles of students who are approved of by the Executive Committee will then be put to the Editorial Board, who will vote on whether or not to appoint you to the board.