About Us

The Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law is published three times annually by the students of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law is committed to publishing articles and essays that further develop and define practical lawyering skills and values throughout the entire educational continuum. The Journal contains:

1. articles written by legal scholars, judges, practitioners, and academics; and
2. casenotes, comments, and clinical essays written by students.

The articles and student pieces analyze new law, examine changes in old law, and alert the legal community to future trends in the law. Additionally, the Journal serves as a practical research tool for judges, lawyers, and students.

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Mission Statement

The Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law is committed to the ongoing development and definition of practical lawyering skills and values throughout the education continuum. The Journal embodies the spirit of Educatio Legis Utilis — practical education of the law. Its mission is to publish articles from scholars, judges, and practitioners that offer insights gained through first-hand knowledge and experience. The articles offer unique perspectives on aspects of the law that challenge even the most experienced attorney. The Journal thereby strives to aid the legal community in its ongoing efforts to find practical solutions to problems inherent in the law.

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Contact Information

The Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law
300 South Capitol Avenue
P.O. Box 13038
Lansing, MI 48901

Phone: (517) 371-5140 ext. 4504
Fax: (517) 334-5782
Email: LawJournal@cooley.edu
Web: http://www.cooley.edu/students/orgs/lawjournal/index.html

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Submissions

The Editors of the Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law invite authors to submit manuscripts for possible publication. Authors should submit manuscripts by email to: LawJournal@cooley.edu.

Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word format. Manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced, with footnotes. Citations in manuscripts should follow the form prescribed in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed. 2005). We regret that unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned.

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Subscriptions

Domestic: $35 per year, or $12 per single copy

Foreign: $40 per year, or $14 per single copy

Inquiries and changes of address may be directed to LawJournal@cooley.edu.

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Prospective Members

The members of the Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law receive an intensified education as a result of the legal research and critical legal analysis that they perform.

The Board of Editors cordially invites all students who have completed Research & Writing to apply for membership to the Journal. We accept applications on a rolling basis. To be considered for an Associate Editor position for the term the student applies, the applicant must apply before Friday of Week 6 by 5:00 P.M. If the student applies after Week 6 and is accepted, they will not officially be recognized as a Journal Member until the following semester.

To be considered for membership, applicants must meet the following grade requirements:

• If the student has a minimum grade point average of 3.0, the student needs at least a B- or better in Research & Writing.
• If the student has a minimum grade point average of 2.5, the student needs at least a B or better in Research & Writing.
• If the student has a minimum grade point average of 2.25, the student needs at least an A- or better in Research & Writing.

The following must be included with your application:

1. Current resume (2 copies)
2. The completed Bluebook Assignment that is assigned for all new applicants. Please see attachment on last pages of the application (2 copies).
3. Non-refundable application fee, in a check or money order, for the amount of $10 payable to Thomas M. Cooley Law Journal.

Applications are available at and should be returned to the Law Journal office located in Room 300 of the Cooley Center in Lansing.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or would like information about the Law Journal itself, please call the Journal office at (517) 371-5140, ext. 4054 or e-mail at LawJournal@cooley.edu.

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