The Thomas Jefferson Law Review (TJLR) has launched a new website, bigger and better than ever before, and geared to a national audience. The new website has “a ton of features,” according to 2012-2013 Law Review Editor-in-Chief Walter Araujo (3L).
The overall goal of the new website was twofold, according to Araujo.
“First, we wanted to bring our journal up-to-speed with what other journals are doing as far as online presence,” he explained. “Second, we wanted to lay a foundation for future Law Review boards to set a new standard — one that other journals will want to follow. At last year's National Conference of Law Reviews, we (the Managing Board) learned just how major websites have become in the ‘law review game.’ And their importance is growing each year. The new website will increase how many people read and cite to our publications, boost subscriptions, provide a new portal for article submissions, and much more.”
The new website’s many features include an archive of past issues that allows visitors to access articles individually and download pdf versions for free. The site also has an “about" tab, which allows visitors to learn the history, structure and operation of the Thomas Jefferson Law Review. Additionally, the site has "submission" and "subscription" tabs. Under the submission tab, anyone can submit a piece for review by the TJLR Articles Committee and potential publication. Under the subscription tab, visitors can subscribe to the Thomas Jefferson Law Review by simply filling in the requested information.
In addition, the new site contains news articles informing visitors about TJLR events. In the near future, the TJLR will unleash its online-only publication feature, which is still in development.
“This last feature will really be something great,” noted Araujo. “It will allow the TJLR to publish a wider variety of pieces and tap into the minds of local, national and international practitioners who often don't have the time to produce traditional scholarly pieces. The practical and easily accessible dialogue that the online feature will produce will place the Thomas Jefferson Law Review among the elite contributors to the advancement and improvement of the law.”
The Law Review Managing Board began developing ideas for the website last year. Greyson Goody (Managing Editor) headed the project with the assistance of Senior Editor Luke Bearden. They researched the latest trends in law review websites and planned what the new Thomas Jefferson Law Review site would look like. They then met with TJSL’s website developer, Patricia Ramert.
“Without doubt, Ms. Ramert was the key contributor to the website's production,” said Araujo. “She took our ideas and not only made them a reality, but improved upon them. The quality and utility of the website created by Ms. Ramert is truly incredible and the TJLR owes her a debt of gratitude. Once the website was operational, but before it was made ‘active,’ the entire Law Review pooled its efforts creating and editing content. Now that the site is up and running, the Law Review can create and edit content on its own.”
“Though the new website was built for the Law Review, I think it's a great thing for the entire TJSL community,” he added. “When the TJLR does well, it reflects positively on the entire school, showcasing the talent that comes through our walls. For example, just the other day, past Member Brian Link notified me that his Note — written for Law Review while he was a student here — was cited by Witkin and Columbia Journal of Law and Arts. Accomplishments like that really make the school look great. And I think the website will not only itself be a brag-worthy accomplishment, but will spawn many more in the future.”
A new issue of the Thomas Jefferson Law Review will hit the stands in just a few weeks.
