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For Authors

Guidelines for Contributors

1. Submissions and Selection Criteria

The Forum welcomes unsolicited submissions. All contributions are assessed by the Editorial Team and are published at their discretion.

Submissions will be considered for publication if they:

  1. Are written in clear, concise, and well-structured academic English;
  2. Fall within the thematic scope of international criminal law and related fields;
  3. Offer a clear, original, and substantively meaningful contribution to ongoing legal or academic debates;
  4. Maintain a professional, civil, and respectful tone.

Submissions should not merely summarise existing developments. They are expected to advance an argument, present a perspective, or critically engage with legal issues.

While topical relevance is welcome, it is not the sole criterion for publication. The Editorial Team also considers thematic balance, originality, and overall fit within the Forum's publication agenda.

We particularly welcome contributions from PhD researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and practitioners. Submissions from LLM students may be considered in exceptional cases where the contribution demonstrates outstanding analytical quality and originality.

To submit a contribution, please send your manuscript to: submissions@jiclagora.org.

Due to the volume of submissions, we are generally unable to provide detailed feedback on rejected manuscripts.

2. Length and Structure

Submissions should generally not exceed 1,500–2,000 words. Shorter contributions are often preferred for readability and impact. Longer submissions may be considered in exceptional cases where the subject matter requires extended analysis.

Authors are encouraged to use clear headings to structure their argument. Subheadings should be used sparingly and should enhance readability rather than fragment the text.

The argument should be clearly identifiable from the outset. Authors are encouraged to state their main claim or analytical focus within the first paragraph.

3. Style and Formatting

  • Submissions should be in a standard, readable font.
  • Text should be single-spaced.
  • Paragraphs should be separated by a single line space.
  • Indentation should not be used.
  • Headings should be in bold.

Clarity, precision, and concision are essential. The blog format prioritises argumentative clarity over exhaustive exposition.

4. References and Citations

The Forum does not use footnotes.

Citations should be kept to a minimum and included in the main text in parentheses where necessary. Where possible, authors are encouraged to integrate references into the narrative rather than overloading the text with citations.

5. Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks should be used in place of traditional academic referencing wherever possible. Authors are encouraged to link to:

  • Treaties, statutes, and other primary legal sources
  • Judgments of international and domestic courts
  • Academic articles and books
  • Relevant prior posts on the Forum or similar platforms

Hyperlinks should be embedded in relevant words or short phrases rather than entire sentences.

6. Author Information

Accepted contributions will be published alongside a short author biography. Authors should provide:

  • A short professional bio (1–2 sentences)
  • Institutional affiliation
  • Optional links to personal or institutional webpages
  • Optional social media links (e.g., X/Twitter, LinkedIn)

Authors may also be invited to submit a profile photograph for publication.

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

The Forum recognises the increasing role of artificial intelligence tools in academic writing and research. The use of such tools is permitted, subject to the following conditions.

AI tools may be used to:

  • Support preliminary research and background reading
  • Assist in structuring arguments and clarifying ideas
  • Improve language, grammar, and readability
  • Generate drafting suggestions or alternative formulations
  • Assist with formatting and hyperlink organisation

However:

  • AI tools must not replace human authorship.
  • Submissions must reflect the author's own intellectual contribution, analysis, and responsibility.
  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.
  • AI must not be used to fabricate sources, citations, or legal authorities.
  • Authors must ensure that no confidential or sensitive information is input into AI systems in breach of professional or legal obligations.

The Editorial Team reserves the right to reject submissions where over-reliance on AI is evident or where the contribution does not demonstrate sufficient human academic input.

8. Editorial Process

All submissions undergo an initial editorial screening. Selected contributions are assigned to an editor for coordination and preparation for publication.

Depending on the nature of the submission, the Editorial Team may:

  • Request revisions
  • Suggest structural or stylistic changes
  • Edit for clarity, coherence, and style

The Forum aims to ensure a timely publication process, particularly for contributions addressing current legal developments.

9. Comment Policy

The Forum encourages scholarly engagement through its comment function. Comments should:

  • Engage substantively with the argument of the post
  • Maintain academic and respectful tone
  • Avoid ad hominem or defamatory remarks

The Editorial Team reserves the right to moderate, edit, or remove comments that violate these standards.