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Instruction for contributors - The CSDLP Blog 

The Editorial team looks forward to receiving contributions, articles, working papers, workshop/event reports, book reviews, and reflective pieces to be uploaded on the CSDLP blog and social media platforms. The Editorial team aims to respond to submissions within three weeks.

We welcome submissions in the following categories and form:

Articles/Research/Opinion Pieces

  • Introduction. 
    • Provide an introduction, a short background, and set out the main theme of the article.
    • Develop an original argument, present your opinion on an issue, contribute to discussions on a current issue or debate relevant to the main research areas of the CSDLP including sustainability, climate change, energy, renewables, and just transition. 
    • For law articles, the article should focus on a specific legal issue and provide adequate information on the legal issue. It should introduce the reader to the area of the law and provide information about the area of law to be discussed.
  • Main body (include sub-headings as may be applicable)
    • Engage with the theme, analyse the issue, rely on relevant authorities, scholarly materials, and include your own thinking/position. The author’s position should be clear to a cross-disciplinary audience.
  • Conclusion
    • Summarise the discussion and reiterate the main point(s).

Suggested length: 500–1,500 words.

Case notes/comments

  • Introduction
    • The scope of the article should be very narrowly defined, clearly setting out the legal issue or question to be answered in the introduction.
  • Background
    • Engage with the case and discuss the decision in lower courts (if applicable). Set out the main issue(s), and the arguments of the claimant, and the respondent with respect to the issue(s). 
  • Decision
    • Set out the judgment of the court, the reason for the decision, and reference certain aspects of the lead judgment. This should be paraphrased not quoted. Identify relevant legislation and case law in your analysis.
  • Conclusion
    • Conclude and highlight the consequence/impact of the decision.

Total word count for case comments should not be more than 1,200 words. Please contact editorial team if word count will exceed the stated amount.

Suggested length: 500–1,500 words.

Legislation/Regulatory Updates

  • Introduction
    • Identify the law or specific aspect of the law to be discussed.
  • Body
    • Briefly identify the evolution of the law and discuss the current position. Include sub-headings (if applicable).
    • Analysis should be supported with reference to legislation, case law, and scholarly materials (as may be applicable).
  • Conclusion/Practical significance
    • Sum up the discussion, highlight the challenges and the likely impact of the legislation (as may be applicable).

Suggested length: 500–1,500 words.

Book Reviews

Authors will introduce the main theme of the book, summarise the main point(s), explain relevance to the core themes of the CSDLP, and set out the book’s value for readers.

Suggested length: 500–1,500 words.

Workshops/Seminars/Events and Reflective pieces

We welcome reports and reflective pieces on workshops, lectures, conferences, and other engagements for publication on the CSDLP blog and shared on our social media channels.

Please use the following as a guide when formulating a workshop/reflective piece:

  • Your name
  • Form of participation: speaker, moderator, attendee, or organiser
  • Workshop or event title/theme
  • Brief summary of the event: including the title of the paper and a short description, where applicable
  • Other relevant details: venue, city, country, and whether the event was physical, virtual, or hybrid
  • Pictures: please share photographs of the event where available

Suggested length: 200–600 words.

GUIDELINES/STYLE

  1. Font - Garamond
  2. Font size - 12
  3. Line spacing - 1.0
  4. Please use numbered headings (1, 2, 3), sub-headings (1.1, 1.2), and maintain a logical structure.
  5. Reference and referencing style - Ensure that the work is carefully referenced (if applicable). Please use OSCOLA or Harvard and be consistent by using only one referencing style per submitted material. Use in-text hyperlinks for workshop/reflective/opinion pieces instead of footnotes.
  6. Length – this is dependent on the contribution. Please aim for between 500 – 1500 words.
  7. Please include details of author(s) such as name, affiliation, email and social media handles.
  8. Contributors must refrain from using AI in a way that suggests it is their original work. If AI is used, please highlight how it was used and the specific areas it was used.
  9. Please submit only original pieces that are yet to be published elsewhere.
  10. Avoid the use of legalese/jargon as our readers will be from a cross-disciplinary background. E.g. replace “inter alia” with “among others”.

Submissions should be forwarded to adebola.adeyemi@durham.ac.uk

Thank you.

CSDLP Editorial Team

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