Alternative Law Journal

Scope & Guideline

Advancing Global Conversations on Law and Society.

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Alternative Law Journal with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1037-969x
PublisherSAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2008 to 2024
AbbreviationALTERN LAW J / Altern. Law J.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The Alternative Law Journal aims to provide a platform for critical discourse around legal issues, focusing on social justice, human rights, and the intersection of law with broader societal concerns. It emphasizes innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches to explore contemporary legal challenges.
  1. Social Justice and Human Rights Advocacy:
    The journal emphasizes the promotion of social justice and human rights, exploring topics such as Indigenous rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the rights of marginalized communities within the legal framework.
  2. Critical Legal Studies:
    It engages with critical legal studies by questioning traditional legal doctrines and practices, advocating for reforms that address systemic inequalities and injustices.
  3. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    The journal encourages interdisciplinary research that integrates insights from sociology, psychology, environmental studies, and other fields to enrich legal scholarship and practice.
  4. Innovative Legal Technologies:
    The exploration of how emerging technologies, such as AI and legal chatbots, can impact legal practice and access to justice is a key focus, highlighting both potential benefits and ethical challenges.
  5. Environmental Law and Climate Justice:
    Addressing legal responses to climate change and environmental degradation, the journal investigates the role of law in promoting sustainability and protecting vulnerable populations affected by environmental issues.
The Alternative Law Journal is currently witnessing several emerging themes that reflect contemporary societal challenges and the evolving landscape of legal practice. These trends indicate a responsiveness to current events and an engagement with innovative legal concepts.
  1. Mental Health and Law:
    There is a rising focus on the intersection of mental health and law, exploring how legal frameworks can better accommodate and support individuals with mental health issues, particularly in criminal justice and family law contexts.
  2. Climate Change and Environmental Justice:
    The journal is increasingly addressing climate change and its legal implications, emphasizing the need for laws that protect the environment and promote sustainability as a critical aspect of social justice.
  3. Technology and Access to Justice:
    Emerging themes around the use of technology in legal practice, including AI and online dispute resolution, are gaining traction, highlighting the potential for these innovations to improve access to justice.
  4. Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty:
    There is a growing emphasis on Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and the legal frameworks that govern these issues, reflecting a broader societal recognition of the importance of Indigenous perspectives in legal discourse.
  5. Gender and Legal Reform:
    The journal is increasingly focusing on gender issues within the legal context, particularly concerning sexual violence, reproductive rights, and gender equality, indicating a commitment to addressing systemic gender-based injustices.

Declining or Waning

While the Alternative Law Journal has maintained a robust engagement with various legal issues, some themes have shown a decline in prominence over recent years. This may reflect shifting societal priorities or changes in the legal landscape.
  1. Traditional Legal Doctrines:
    There appears to be a waning focus on traditional legal doctrines and procedural aspects of law, as the journal increasingly prioritizes social justice, critical perspectives, and practical implications over established legal frameworks.
  2. Conventional Legal Education:
    The emphasis on conventional legal education approaches is decreasing, with a growing interest in alternative legal education models that prioritize practical skills, wellness, and interdisciplinary learning.
  3. Historical Legal Analysis:
    While historical legal perspectives were once a consistent feature, there is a noticeable decline in papers focusing exclusively on historical analyses of legal cases or doctrines, suggesting a shift towards contemporary issues.
  4. Administrative Law:
    The frequency of publications specifically addressing administrative law has diminished, possibly overshadowed by more pressing social justice themes and the need for reform in areas such as human rights and environmental law.

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