Guidelines for Authors

The Indian Journal of Legal Affairs and Research (IJLAR)
Discipline: Law and Socio-Legal Studies
Contact: editor@ijlar.com

These guidelines assist authors in preparing manuscripts for submission to the Indian Journal of Legal Affairs and Research (IJLAR). Authors are requested to read this document together with the journal's Plagiarism Policy, Publication Ethics Policy and Review Policy.

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1. Scope of the Journal

IJLAR welcomes original work on a wide range of legal and socio-legal themes, including:

  • Constitutional and Public Law
  • Criminal Law and Criminology
  • Corporate, Commercial and Financial Laws
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Human Rights and Social Justice
  • Technology, Cyber and Data Protection Laws
  • International Law and Comparative Legal Studies
  • Interdisciplinary and socio-legal research involving law

2. Types of Submissions

The following categories are commonly considered:

  • Research Articles – 4,000 to 8,000 words (approx.), including footnotes.
  • Case Comments / Legislative Notes – 2,000 to 4,000 words (approx.).
  • Short Notes / Insights – 1,500 to 3,000 words (approx.).
  • Book Reviews – 1,500 to 3,000 words (approx.).

Word limits are indicative and may vary based on the nature of the work. Authors should clearly indicate the proposed category when submitting.

3. Structure of the Manuscript

3.1 Title Page

  • Full title of the manuscript (concise and descriptive).
  • Author name(s) and institutional affiliation(s).
  • Contact details of the corresponding author (email and phone number).

3.2 Abstract and Keywords

  • Abstract: 150–300 words summarising the objectives, approach and key findings.
  • Keywords: 3–6 relevant keywords indicating the main themes of the work.

3.3 Main Text

A typical research article may include the following parts, as appropriate:

  • Introduction (background and research problem)
  • Literature review or legal context
  • Methodology or analytical framework (where applicable)
  • Discussion and analysis
  • Findings and conclusion
  • References or bibliography

4. Formatting Guidelines

4.1 Document Format

  • File formats: .doc or .docx (a PDF may be added as a supporting file).
  • Font: a clear and readable font such as Times New Roman or an equivalent.
  • Font size: 12 pt in the main text, 10 pt in footnotes (indicative).
  • Line spacing: 1.5 in the main text; single spacing in footnotes.
  • Margins: typically 1 inch on all sides.

4.2 Headings and Subheadings

  • Use a consistent hierarchy of headings and subheadings.
  • Numbered headings (1, 1.1, 1.2) may be used where helpful, but are not mandatory.

4.3 Citations and References

Authors should adopt a consistent citation style throughout. A standard legal citation style, using footnotes, is generally preferred.

  • Provide complete details for cases, statutes, books, articles and other sources.
  • Ensure that every source cited in the text appears in the reference list / bibliography.
  • Avoid unnecessary repetition or overly long footnotes where a concise reference will suffice.

5. Originality and Plagiarism

Manuscripts submitted to IJLAR must be original and should not be under consideration by any other journal or publisher. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is not permitted.

Authors are encouraged to use a plagiarism checking tool before submission and to familiarise themselves with the Plagiarism Policy.

6. Co-Authorship

  • Co-authored submissions are welcome, subject to reasonable limits on the number of authors.
  • Each listed author should have made a meaningful contribution to the work.
  • The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve the final version.

7. Submission Process

Authors may submit their manuscripts via either of the following:

Authors should ensure that contact details are accurate and check email regularly for updates.

8. Review and Decision

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening may be sent for review. Decisions may include:

  • Accept (with or without minor revisions)
  • Revise and resubmit
  • Reject

For more details, please see the Review Policy.

9. After Acceptance

Following acceptance, authors may be asked to:

  • Incorporate final editorial or formatting suggestions.
  • Sign and return the copyright agreement / author declaration.
  • Confirm author details, affiliations and final proofs.

10. Queries

For any clarification relating to these guidelines or a specific manuscript, authors may write to:

editor@ijlar.com
ijlar.publication@gmail.com

IJLAR may update these Guidelines for Authors periodically. The version displayed on the journal website at the time of submission will normally apply to that manuscript.