Author Submission Guidelines for India Legal Research Foundation Journal
The India Legal Research Foundation Journal (ILRF Journal) is a scholarly platform dedicated to encouraging rigorous legal research and meaningful academic dialogue. The Journal aims to promote critical thinking, doctrinal analysis, and interdisciplinary scholarship in the field of law.
We invite submissions from students, researchers, academicians, legal practitioners, and policy professionals who wish to contribute to the advancement of legal knowledge and discourse.
Authors are requested to carefully review and comply with the following submission guidelines before sending their manuscripts.
1. Scope of the Journal
The Journal welcomes scholarly work addressing contemporary legal issues, doctrinal developments, comparative legal analysis, public policy concerns, and interdisciplinary legal studies.
Submissions may focus on, but are not limited to:
- Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
- Corporate and Commercial Law
- Technology and Data Protection Law
- International Law and Trade Law
- Environmental and Human Rights Law
- Emerging areas of legal policy and governance
Manuscripts that demonstrate original research, analytical depth, and well-reasoned arguments are particularly encouraged.
2. Categories of Submissions
The Journal accepts manuscripts under the following categories.
Research Articles
Research Articles are expected to present comprehensive and well-structured research on a specific legal issue. These papers should include doctrinal analysis, relevant case law discussion, statutory interpretation, and engagement with existing academic literature.
Word Limit: 8,000 – 10,000 words (including footnotes)
Short Articles / Essays
Short Articles or Essays may address a focused legal question, contemporary development, or theoretical debate. These pieces are shorter but should still demonstrate analytical clarity and scholarly engagement.
Word Limit: 2,500 – 4,000 words (including footnotes)
Case Comments
Case Comments analyse recent judicial decisions and discuss their legal significance, reasoning adopted by the court, and potential implications for future jurisprudence.
Word Limit: 1,500 – 2,500 words (including footnotes)
Legislative or Policy Comments
These submissions analyse newly enacted legislation, amendments, regulatory developments, or public policy initiatives and their broader legal and societal impact.
Word Limit: 1,500 – 2,500 words (including footnotes)
3. Originality Requirement
All submissions must be original and unpublished work.
Authors must ensure that:
- The manuscript has not been previously published in any journal, blog, or online platform.
- The manuscript is not simultaneously submitted to another publication.
- All sources used in the manuscript are properly cited.
The Journal follows strict academic integrity standards and does not tolerate plagiarism, data manipulation, or misrepresentation of sources.
If plagiarism is detected at any stage of the review or publication process, the manuscript will be immediately rejected, and the author may be barred from future submissions.
4. Manuscript Formatting Requirements
To ensure uniformity and readability, authors must follow the formatting requirements listed below.
Font and Text Formatting
- Font Style: Times New Roman
- Font Size: Main text: 12 | Footnotes: 10
- Line Spacing: Main text: 1.5 spacing | Footnotes: Single spacing
- Alignment: Justified
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Page Numbers: Placed at the bottom centre of each page.
Headings and Subheadings
Authors should structure their manuscript using clear headings and subheadings to improve readability. For example:
II. Legal Framework
III. Judicial Interpretation
IV. Comparative Analysis
V. Conclusion
Headings should be concise and logically organized.
5. Abstract and Keywords
Every manuscript must include:
Abstract
A brief abstract of 150–250 words summarizing:
- the research issue
- methodology or approach
- key arguments or findings
The abstract should allow readers to quickly understand the focus and contribution of the paper.
Keywords
Authors must provide 4–6 keywords that represent the core themes of the manuscript.
These keywords assist in indexing and improving the discoverability of the research.
6. Citation and Footnoting Style
The ILRF Journal follows the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation citation style.
Authors must adhere to the following rules:
- All references must be cited using footnotes rather than endnotes.
- Citations must follow the formatting standards prescribed in the Bluebook.
- Authors should ensure accuracy in citing case laws, statutes, books, journal articles, and online sources.
- Web sources should include the date of last access.
- Excessive citation should be avoided. Footnotes should support the argument rather than overwhelm the main text.
7. Anonymity and Author Information
The Journal follows a double-blind peer review system to ensure impartiality. Therefore:
The manuscript must not contain the author's name, affiliation, or any identifying information.
Author details must be provided in a separate cover page. The cover page should include:
- Name of the author(s)
- Institutional affiliation
- Contact email address
- Title of the manuscript
- A brief author bio (50–80 words)
Submissions that disclose the identity of the author within the manuscript may be returned for correction before review.
8. Editorial Screening Process
Once a manuscript is received, it undergoes an initial editorial review. During this stage the editorial board examines:
- whether the manuscript falls within the scope of the Journal
- compliance with formatting and citation guidelines
- originality and clarity of the submission
Manuscripts that do not comply with the submission requirements may be returned to the author for technical revisions before proceeding to peer review.
9. Peer Review Process
The Journal follows a double-blind peer review system, meaning that both the author and the reviewers remain anonymous during the evaluation process. Each manuscript is reviewed by subject experts or experienced researchers.
The reviewers evaluate the manuscript on the basis of:
- originality of the research & clarity of arguments
- methodological rigor & quality of legal analysis
- relevance to contemporary legal discourse
Based on the reviewers' recommendations, the editorial board may decide to:
Accept the manuscript | Accept with minor revisions | Request major revisions | Reject the submission
10. Response Timeline
The Journal strives to maintain a transparent and efficient review process.
In cases requiring extensive peer review or revisions, the process may take slightly longer. Authors will be informed promptly about the status of their manuscript.
- Acknowledgment of submissionsame day
- Initial editorial decisionwithin 7 working days
- Final review decisionwithin 30 days
11. Plagiarism Screening
All manuscripts submitted to the Journal undergo plagiarism screening using recognized academic plagiarism detection software.
Submissions with similarity exceeding approximately 10–12% (excluding citations and commonly used legal terminology) may be rejected or returned for revision.
The Journal may also verify:
- authenticity of citations
- accuracy of legal references
- integrity of sources cited
12. Editing & Proofreading
The editorial board reserves the right to make minor editorial changes to improve clarity, grammar, and formatting.
However:
- Substantive changes will always be communicated to the author.
- Authors may be required to review proofs prior to publication.
Authors are expected to cooperate with the editorial team to ensure smooth and timely publication.
13. Copyright Policy
Upon acceptance of the manuscript, authors may be required to grant the Journal the right to publish the work. Authors will retain the intellectual ownership of their research, but any subsequent publication of the same work should acknowledge its first publication in the ILRF Journal.
14. Ethical Standards
Authors must avoid:
- plagiarism & duplicate submissions
- fabrication or manipulation of findings
- improper attribution of sources
15. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
The India Legal Research Foundation Journal recognizes that technological tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly being used to assist in research and writing. While such tools may support the research process, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submissions.
Permissible Use of AI Tools
Authors may use AI-based tools for limited assistance, such as:
- Improving grammar, language clarity, or sentence structure
- Organizing research notes or summarizing background material
- Formatting citations or references
These uses are considered acceptable as long as the core intellectual contribution, legal reasoning, and analysis remain the author’s own work.
Prohibited Use of AI Tools
AI tools must not be used to generate substantive portions of the manuscript, including:
- Original legal analysis or arguments
- Case law interpretation
- Research conclusions or policy recommendations
- Entire sections of the manuscript
Author Responsibility & Disclosure
Authors are solely responsible for ensuring that all legal citations are accurate, correctly referenced, and not fabricated by AI tools. The editorial board reserves the right to verify citations and references during the review process.
If AI tools have been used in any stage of the manuscript preparation, authors are encouraged to provide a brief disclosure statement on the cover page.
Example: "The author used an AI-assisted writing tool solely for language editing and grammar refinement. All legal research, analysis, and conclusions presented in this manuscript are the author’s own work."
Editorial Review of AI Use
The Journal may use editorial screening methods or AI-detection tools to identify manuscripts that appear to be substantially AI-generated. If significant AI-generated content is identified without disclosure, the manuscript may be returned for clarification, or rejected on grounds of academic integrity.
16. Rewards and Benefits Policy
India Legal Research Foundation Journal (ILRF Journal) shall recognise and reward outstanding academic contributions published in the journal.
🏆 Paper of the Month Award (Monthly)
The Editorial Board of the ILRF Journal shall select one article/paper each month as the "Paper of the Month." The selection will be based on originality, depth of research, analytical quality, relevance to contemporary legal issues, and overall academic contribution.
💰 Prize Money
The author(s) of the selected Paper shall be awarded a cash prize of ₹5,100 (Rupees Five Thousand One Hundred only).
🌐 Feature and Promotion
The selected paper will be featured and promoted on the official website and digital platforms of the India Legal Research Foundation, providing the author(s) with enhanced visibility within the legal and academic community.
📜 Author Recognition
The author(s) of the awarded paper may also receive a certificate of recognition from the India Legal Research Foundation acknowledging their scholarly contribution. (The decision of the Editorial Board is final and binding)
17. Registration and Submission Process
All manuscripts for the India Legal Research Foundation Journal (ILRF Journal) must be submitted through the official online submission system on the main Journal page.
Manuscript Submission Requirements
Authors are required to upload two separate PDF files as part of your final submission (or combined in the upload if requested by form):
(a) Manuscript File (Blind Review Copy)
This file must contain only the manuscript and should not include any personal details of the author(s) in order to maintain the integrity of the review process.
(b) Author Details File (Cover page)
A separate page containing the author information must be submitted: Name, Contact Details, Institution, Designation, Residential Address, passing Bank Details (for potential prize disbursement).
Registration Fee
A registration fee of ₹399 (Rupees Three Hundred Ninety-Nine only) is required to submit a manuscript to the journal.
After completing the submission form, authors will be automatically redirected to the payment page to complete the registration fee payment. The submission process will be considered complete only after the successful payment.
Fee Policy: The registration fee is charged solely for maintaining the authenticity and seriousness of submissions and to ensure that the journal receives genuine academic contributions.
For any queries or doubts, reach out at:
publications@ilrf.in