After completing their first year of law school, students at the University of Houston Law Center are eligible to become candidates (2L members) on the Journal. Students may join the Journal in the following ways:
- Students in the top twenty percent of their first-year section or class will be invited to join the Journal after spring grades are posted.
- Students in the top thirty-five percent of their first-year section or class, or who received an A or A- in one or both semesters of LRW, may apply to be a candidate on the Journal. Those who qualify to apply-on will be contacted via email after spring grades are posted.
- Students in the top half of their first-year section or class, and transfer students, may participate in the write-on competition to join the Journal. For guidelines, please visit the law school’s official website for the competition by clicking here.
Candidate Requirements
- Candidates must serve a year-long term during which they are actively involved in the publication of each issue by completing 3 source files (collecting actual sources cited by authors) and 3 cite checks (substantiating information within an article).
- Candidates must also write a publishable quality comment (60 pages) or two casenotes (30 pages each) regarding a topic of international legal significance.
- Candidates are also required to complete 50 member on duty (MOD) hours, which are broken into 25 hour blocks for both the fall and spring semesters.
- MOD hours typically include various projects that help with the publication process or general Journal functioning.
- Included in the 50 MOD hour requirement is a 6 hour Roundtable requirement, which is met by a candidate working two separate 3-hour shifts for two print weekends.
- After a candidate completes their first year on Journal, they are then required to fill an editorial position the following year.
- Note: an editorial position must be taken in order to receive credit for work done for HJIL.
Part-time Students
Three different tracks are available for part-time students. Part-time students may select one of the following three options:
- Traditional Track: Part-time students have the option of completing the same track as full-time students. This includes all the requirements listed above. Students will fulfill their editorship positions in their 3rd year.
- Track A: Track A takes 2 years to complete the candidacy requirement. As 2nd year students, candidates will write their comments or casenotes. As 3rd year students, candidates will fulfill their cite check, source file, and MOD hour requirements. Students become editors in their 4th year.
- Track B: Track B also takes 2 years to complete the candidacy requirement. As 2nd year students, candidates will fulfill their cite check, source file, and MOD hour requirements. As 3rd year students, candidates will write their comments or casenotes. Students become editors in their 4th year.
Candidate Benefits
- Each candidate develops research, writing, and editorial skills.
- The skills each student acquires will be attractive to potential employers and a valuable tool to any practicing attorney.
- Candidates fulfill the Law Center’s writing requirement in their second year and possibly have their papers published in the Journal.
- Additionally, several candidates receive monetary awards for outstanding papers.
- Candidates retroactively receive academic credit for successful completion of candidacy requirements and election to the Board of Editors.
- NOTE: the amount of academic credit may range from 1 to 6 hours depending on the editorial position the candidate takes on.