Peer Review Process

Peer Review Policy

Lex Publica is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and quality. All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, original research relevant to the field of legal studies.

1. Initial Screening by Editorial Team

Upon submission, each manuscript is initially reviewed by the editorial team to evaluate its adherence to Lex Publica's submission guidelines, formatting requirements, and overall suitability in relation to the journal’s focus and scope. Manuscripts that do not meet the minimum submission standards will be returned to the author for correction or rejected outright.

2. Plagiarism Check

As part of our commitment to academic honesty, Lex Publica uses Turnitin to screen all manuscripts for potential plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% (excluding properly cited references and quotations) will be immediately rejected or returned for clarification. Authors are encouraged to ensure that all sources are properly cited and quoted according to ethical publishing standards.

3. Double-Blind Peer Review Process

Once a manuscript passes the preliminary checks, it is sent for *double-blind peer review*, where the identities of both the authors and the reviewers are concealed to ensure unbiased and objective evaluations.

Each manuscript is assigned to two independent reviewers who are selected based on their expertise, prior review experience, and relevance to the manuscript’s subject matter. Reviewers are required to assess the manuscript using a standardized review form that covers the following key aspects:

- Originality and contribution to the field of legal studies
- Methodological soundness and legal reasoning
- Clarity and coherence of the argument
- Structure, style, and use of language
- Relevance to the aims and scope of Lex Publica

4. Editorial Decision

Based on the recommendations from the reviewers, the editorial board will make one of the following decisions:

- Accepted without revision – The manuscript is accepted for publication as submitted.
- Accepted with minor revisions – The manuscript requires minor changes, to be addressed within a stipulated timeframe.
- Accepted with major revisions – The manuscript requires significant modifications. A revised version must be resubmitted and may undergo a second round of review.
- Rejected – The manuscript is unsuitable for publication due to major methodological issues, lack of originality, poor presentation, or misalignment with the journal’s scope.

The final decision rests with the editorial board, taking into account the reviewers’ evaluations and the manuscript’s overall quality and relevance.

5. Copyright and Publication Ethics

Prior to publication, all authors are required to sign a copyright agreement, granting Lex Publica the right to publish and distribute the manuscript. Authors retain the moral rights to their work.

Lex Publica strictly adheres to ethical publication practices and expects all parties involved in the publication process (editors, reviewers, and authors) to uphold standards of transparency, objectivity, and academic integrity.