Should You Do Law Review? An Honest Look at the Write-On Competition
Toward the end of 1L year, a new source of stress arrives: the law review write-on competition. Everyone talks about how important law review is, the competition lands right after final exams when you're exhausted, and most students go into it without really understanding what they're competing for or whether they even want it.
Let's clear it up.
What law review actually is. A law review (or law journal) is a student-run scholarly publication that publishes legal articles — some written by professors, judges, and practitioners, and some by students. Student members do the behind-the-scenes work: checking citations, editing articles, verifying sources, and, for some, writing their own scholarly pieces (called notes or comments). The flagship law review at each school is typically the most prestigious, and many schools also have secondary or specialty journals focused on particular areas of law.
Why it's considered valuable. Law review carries real weight for a few reasons:
Resume signal — membership on the flagship law review is a recognized marker of strong academic ability and work ethic, and certain employers (particularly for clerkships and some competitive positions) value it highly
Skill development — you get intensive practice in legal research, writing, and meticulous editing, which are core lawyering skills
Clerkship and academia doors — for judicial clerkships and legal academic careers especially, law review (and often an editorial position) can matter significantly
Networking and credential — it connects you with other high-performing students and is a durable line on your resume
How you get on: grade-on vs. write-on. There are typically two paths onto law review:
Grade-on — some schools automatically invite students above a certain GPA threshold after 1L
Write-on — most members join by competing in the write-on competition, a rigorous writing exercise held after 1L spring exams
Many schools use a combination, and some use write-on exclusively. The write-on is the path most students take.
What the write-on competition involves. The write-on is usually a timed, closed-universe writing and analysis exercise completed over several days to a week or two, right after exams. It typically includes:
A writing component — often a case comment or note analyzing a legal issue using a packet of provided source materials (a "closed universe," meaning you use only what they give you)
A Bluebook citation component — testing your ability to correctly cite legal sources according to the Bluebook (the citation manual that governs legal writing), which is finicky and detail-intensive
The competition tests legal analysis, writing quality, and attention to citation detail under time pressure — a preview of the meticulous work law review membership involves.
How to prepare for and approach the write-on.
Take it seriously despite exam fatigue. It comes at the worst possible time, right when you're drained. But it's a real opportunity, and effort matters. Rest a little first if you can, then commit.
Master the Bluebook basics. A significant portion often turns on citation accuracy. The Bluebook is tedious but learnable — knowing the common rules cold gives you an edge many exhausted competitors won't have.
Follow instructions exactly. Write-on competitions often have strict formatting, length, and procedural rules, and violating them can disqualify you or cost points. Read every instruction carefully and follow it precisely.
Focus on clear analysis and clean writing. The substantive component rewards tight, well-organized legal analysis and polished prose. This is where your 1L legal writing training pays off.
Budget your time. With a multi-day window, plan it out — time to read the packet, outline, draft, cite, and (crucially) edit. Don't leave editing and citation-checking for a frantic final hour.
Now the honest part: is it worth it for you? Law review is genuinely valuable, but it's not mandatory for a successful legal career, and it's a significant time commitment (often 20+ hours a week during the school year on top of your classes). Whether to pursue it depends on your goals:
If you're interested in judicial clerkships or legal academia — law review, ideally with an editorial position, matters a lot. Strongly consider trying out.
If you're aiming for competitive firm jobs or want the strongest possible resume — it's a meaningful credential worth pursuing.
If you want intensive writing and editing practice — it delivers that.
If your goals lie elsewhere (many practice areas, public interest, government, or paths where practical experience matters more than this particular credential), law review is a nice-to-have, not a must-have. The substantial time it consumes might be better spent on clinics, internships, practical experience, or simply protecting your grades and wellbeing.
Consider secondary journals too. If you don't make the flagship law review, or if a specialty area interests you, secondary and specialty journals are worth considering. They offer many of the same skill-building and resume benefits, often with a subject-matter focus (health law, IP, international law, etc.) that can align with your interests and career goals. They're not merely a consolation prize — for students focused on a particular field, a specialty journal can be a better fit than the flagship.
Don't let it define your self-worth. Here's something worth hearing plainly: whether or not you make law review does not determine whether you'll be a good lawyer or have a successful career. Plenty of excellent, successful attorneys were never on law review. It's a valuable opportunity for the right goals, and it's worth trying out if it aligns with yours — but it's one credential among many, and the write-on outcome is not a verdict on your ability. Compete if it fits your path, do your best, and keep it in perspective either way.
The write-on competition is a real opportunity that arrives at an exhausting time. Understand what law review is, decide honestly whether it fits your goals, and if you go for it, prepare deliberately and give it a real effort. Then, whatever the outcome, keep moving toward the career you actually want.
Moore Consulting Services works with current law students nationwide on academic strategy, legal writing, and career planning — including decisions like whether to pursue law review and how to prepare for the write-on. Reach out if you'd like to think it through with someone.