how to write a lawyer peer revie

by Pattie Johnson 8 min read

Write in clear sentences Instead of jotting down brief bullet points, try to answer all of the questions on your peer review form in full sentences. Summarize what you have noticed about your colleague's performance during a specific period of time.

Full Answer

What information does a lawyer need to provide for peer review?

Jul 02, 2019 · Reviewers often ask the editorial team at Law & Social Inquiry for tips on writing peer reviews. Here are what I see as four key attributes of reviewer reports that are most valuable to editors and authors. Transparent. A strong peer review is appropriately open and honest with the journal’s editors. The reviewer has a responsibility to disclose to the editors if there are any …

How do you write a peer review paper?

Adding client reviews to your Lawyers.com and Martindale.com profiles is easy and completely free. To start the process, direct your satisfied clients to your profile page on lawyers.com or martindale.com for yourself or your law firm. When the client clicks “Submit A Client Review,” they’ll be given a survey to complete. Client Reviews FAQs

Should you give praise or critique when writing peer reviews?

3. Historically the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system utilized an “A - B - C” scale to estimate the legal ability and ethical standards of an attorney. To qualify for an “A” rating an attorney had to be reported as “Very High” in their legal ability and had been practicing for at least 10 years, a “B” rating meant an attorney was rated “High” and had to be practicing for at least 5 …

What is a peer review?

Aug 25, 2015 · List the positives and then the negatives. When it comes time to write peer review comments, it can feel second nature to lean heavily towards giving criticism rather than praise. Of course peer reviews need to be rigorous and critical, but don’t forget to remind authors of what they are doing right as well.

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What should I write in a peer review?

Write a clear and constructive review Open your review with the most important comments—a summarization of the research and your impression of the research. Make sure to include feedback on the strengths, as well as the weaknesses, of the manuscript. Examples and explanations of those should consume most of the review.

How do you write a law review?

Following the Steps to Success (Law Review)Step 1: Picking a Paper Topic.Step 2: Preemption Checking.Step 3: Additional Research.Step 4: Write the paper. Make sure you check the rules for Plagiarism!Step 5: Check Citations.Step 6: Getting Published/Writing Competitions.Feb 25, 2022

What is peer review in law?

Peer review is the evaluation of someone's work by a group of people in the same profession or field (peers). Peer review is mostly used to maintain the quality of the performance of professionals.

How do you prepare for a peer review?

How I prepare a peer reviewRead the paper. ... Write down what you think the paper is about. ... Sleep on it. ... Read the methods. ... Analyze the results. ... Read the discussion. ... Write up your review. ... Write up your notes to the editor.More items...•Feb 11, 2016

What should I write my law review note about?

Establish some familiarity with the principal cases or statutes in your area of interest. Identify generally or specifically what questions look particularly promising to you. Read some of the most recent articles on the general subject. Do not expect the professor to give you something for nothing.Aug 31, 2021

What is the format of a law review article?

Times New Roman or similar, 12 pt font. Double spaced lines. One inch margins all around. Footnotes in academic Bluebook style (use the rules on the main white pages instead of the light blue pages at the front of the Bluebook).Aug 24, 2020

Is a law review peer-reviewed?

Many law reviews state that they are peer-reviewed and are even designated as refereed in Ulrichsweb. In the case of student written scholarly work, their "peers" are more experienced students.Jun 30, 2021

Is Fordham law review peer-reviewed?

The Fordham Undergraduate Law Review (FULR) provides an entirely student-run, peer-reviewed scholarly journal focusing on pressing legal issues presented at the undergraduate level for the Fordham University and legal community.

Is SMU law review peer-reviewed?

Published from 1995 to 2016, the Law and Business Review of the Americas (LBRA) is a peer-reviewed journal that was produced by the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law's International Law Review Association.

How do you write a peer review letter?

Here's how your outline might look:Summary of the research and your overall impression. In your own words, summarize what the manuscript claims to report. ... Discussion of specific areas for improvement. ... Any other points. ... General guidelines for effective feedback.Feb 6, 2020

What does a peer review process look like?

Peer review is the system used to assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published. Independent researchers in the relevant research area assess submitted manuscripts for originality, validity and significance to help editors determine whether a manuscript should be published in their journal.

What is the first step in the peer review process?

The peer review processStep 1: Editor assessment. download PDF. ... Step 2: First round of peer review. The editor will then find and contact other researchers who are experts in your field, asking them to review the paper. ... Step 3: Revise and resubmit. ... Step 4: Accepted.

List The Positives and Then The Negatives

When it comes time to write peer review comments, it can feel second nature to lean heavily towards giving criticism rather than praise. Of course...

Give Concrete Examples and Advice

Be sure to backup your peer review comments and opinions with concrete examples and suggestions for improvement. No one likes to be told “this is u...

Don’T Be Afraid to Seek Support

Finally, particularly as a young peer reviewer, it’s important to always be cognizant of when you may need help in making a fair assessment. In “Ho...

Peer Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell reviews, including peer reviews, are crucial to an attorney’s online presence. Over 90% of consumers in a recent survey stated they read reviews when evaluating a business. Martindale reviews also help an attorney’s display on Google because ratings stars will appear as part of your search results.

Client Reviews

Client reviews demonstrate to prospective clients that your prior clients would recommend you, which is the best testimonial an attorney can receive. This is especially true as more people than ever rely on online reviews: over 80% of people check lawyer reviews as the first step in finding an attorney.

What does a B rating mean for an attorney?

To qualify for an “A” rating an attorney had to be reported as “Very High” in their legal ability and had been practicing for at least 10 years, a “B” rating meant an attorney was rated “High” and had to be practicing for at least 5 years, and a “C” rating meant that the attorney was rated “fair” with no limitations on how long they were practicing. A second rating was also given to go along with the “A - B - C” rating and that was a “V,” meaning that the attorney's peers stated they had "Very High" ethical standards. Over the years this transitioned to “AV”, “BV”, and “CV” ratings - with an “AV” rating meaning that the attorney had reached the highest of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.

Does Martindale Hubbell have a peer review rating?

For more than 130 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been evaluating attorneys for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards through a Peer Review Rating system. Prior to the 1887 edition of Martindale’s American Law Directory, which was the first publication to provide such ratings to attorneys, there was no way of truly knowing if the lawyer you were considering to do business with was trustworthy, ethical, or skilled in the legal field.

What is the last step for peer review?

The last step for a peer reviewer is making a recommendation of either accept, reject, revise, or transfer. Be sure that your recommendation reflects your review. A recommendation of acceptance upon first review is rare and only to be used if there is no room for improvement.

What are some examples of bad reviews?

Examples of bad reviews: 1 Many grammatical issues. Paper should be corrected for grammar and punctuation. Very interesting and timely subject. 2 This paper does not have a high archival value; should be rejected. 3 Great paper; recommend acceptance.

What is a fatal flaw in a review?

You might also notice a fatal flaw during your first reading. Forget minor or major flaws: a fatal flaw is one that stops the review process dead in its tracks.

How many readings should I do in a paper?

We suggest that you perform three readings of a paper, concentrating on a different element each time. At every point, remember to classify your comments as major or minor flaws. Major flaws will need considerable time to explain or correct. The first reading is to get an overall impression of the paper and its aims.

What to do if you don't find a fatal flaw in a research paper?

If you don’t find a fatal flaw, continue to the second reading. Remember, you still need time, peace and quiet. The second reading allows you to concentrate on the scientific nuts and bolts of the research: the method, analysis and conclusions.

Who is the leader of SciSnack?

Here’s one method for effectively peer-reviewing papers, says Mathew Stiller-Reeve. Mathew Stiller-Reeve is a climate researcher at NORCE/Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Bergen, Norway, the leader of SciSnack.com, and a thematic editor at Geoscience Communication. Scientists do not receive enough peer-review training.

Do scientists receive peer review training?

Scientists do not receive enough peer-review training. To improve this situation, a small group of editors and I developed a peer-review workflow to guide reviewers in delivering useful and thorough analyses that can really help authors to improve their papers. We suggest that you perform three readings of a paper, ...

Should you leave wild geese alone?

The paper should leave wild geese alone, unless it’s a submission to an ornithology journal. At this point, it’s a good idea to take a few days away from the paper to step back from the details for a while. During the third and final reading, you should concentrate on the writing and presentation.

Do editors expect you to be an expert?

Editors do not expect you to be an expert in absolutely every aspect of the paper, although they also don’t want you to be a novice. Be upfront and honest with the authors and the editor about which scientific aspects you will focus on in your review.

What is peer to peer review?

1. Peer to peer review provides a closer look at the employee being evaluated. No matter how effective a manager may be at assessing their people, or how tight they are with their team; they are still likely to omit performance insights about any given employee. This is especially true if there are other employees that are being subjected ...

How does peer review help a company?

Peer review can also function as a roundabout way to assess whether your business processes are still working efficiently and effectively , or if any adjustments need to be made. They can also provide indicators of whether your organizational structure needs to be modified. Through peer review, you can have a clearer sense of the relationship between work quality and output, compared to the systems and structures in place in your company, from an insider’s perspective. Data points of performance by role and / or team can provide insightful information regarding business performance gaps.

What is peer review process?

The peer review process involves more than just the employee and their peers. Employee performance processes affect the entire organization. Managers and leaders especially should be early adopters and promoters of the new system. Active support from senior executives communicates to lower staff that the program is a priority. You should also ensure that any employee, at all levels, feels empowered to participate.

Why is peer review important?

Peer reviews help monitor and improve employee performance. Basing your assessment of employee performance solely on the output and financial results of the company is not the way to manage people. Human resources remain one of the most important aspects of every organization.

Why are peers good motivators?

By their very association, peers can be excellent motivators. They are on the frontlines with you, working side by side, and relying on you for support, just as you rely on them. And, unlike managers, they have access to the finer details required of their coworkers to complete their duties. Because of their heightened insight into how their ...

What is the importance of metrics in a review system?

In any review system, input is being solicited based on the opinion of how an individual demonstrates the metric in question. If you don’t have clearly defined values (specific, desired behaviors) the evaluator will not be able to accurately assess their colleague’s performance.

Can feedback providers be anonymous?

The general rules that the feedback provider will remain anonymous. There are cases when their identity can be disclosed, however, usually when the review is being provided directly to the employee being reviewed, and not just their supervisor.

What is the basic premise of peer review?

Do Be Kind. The basic premise of peer review is to encourage further writing. The manuscript is a draft that the author seeks helpful feedback on, thus requiring a fair appraisal. Frame your criticism positively, empower the author to improve their writing and develop ideas. Give the good news along with the bad news.

Why is peer review important?

Peer review is an extremely crucial aspect of the publication cycle. It helps ensure manuscript and journal quality. The process aims to provide written feedback in the form of commentary/criticism to the author, prior to the manuscript’s publication.

What is a reviewer?

Reviewers are often experts in their respective fields, although in some instances they might be invited to review a broader theme. Even if you are not an expert in the discipline, maintain scientific rigor, read critically, and accurately dissect the analysis.

What is an invited referee?

As an invited referee, you are professionally able to provide constructive criticism to improve the work of a peer. However, young scientists who review their first manuscript may learn efficacy via a senior mentor, journal clubs, or through online guidelines. Be sure to read the invitation to peer review thoroughly, check the due date, ...

How to answer peer review questions?

Instead of jotting down brief bullet points, try to answer all of the questions on your peer review form in full sentences. Summarize what you have noticed about your colleague's performance during a specific period of time. Make notes of what they have improved and what you hope to see them work on in the future.

How to manage peer review process?

Managers and HR professionals can follow these steps when implementing a peer review process in the workplace: 1. Make it anonymous. One of the most important parts of a successful peer review is making it anonymous.

How to give feedback to a colleague?

Follow these best practices when your colleague gives you feedback: 1 Meet with your manager. Having a one-on-one meeting with your manager to discuss your team's feedback can help you figure out what to do moving forward. Work with them to set realistic goals for yourself and to assess which comments you should focus on. 2 Measure your progress. When deciding to apply some of your colleague's feedback. Come up with a system to measure your progress. Every so often, check in with yourself to see how you are doing. You could even ask your manager if they have noticed any of your improvement. 3 See it as an opportunity. The purpose of a peer review is to learn more about yourself as a professional. Use any feedback you receive as an opportunity to work toward your full potential. 4 Be kind to yourself. Remember, one person's opinion doesn't define who you are. Allow yourself to accept your weaknesses and learn from your mistakes. Likewise, give yourself time to celebrate your successes and focus on your strengths.

Why is peer review important?

A peer review is a good way to get honest feedback from your colleagues. Peer reviews can help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses in the workplace. For instance, you may be unaware of a certain habit or tendency you have at work.

What is the purpose of peer review?

The purpose of a peer review is to learn more about yourself as a professional. Use any feedback you receive as an opportunity to work toward your full potential. Be kind to yourself. Remember, one person's opinion doesn't define who you are. Allow yourself to accept your weaknesses and learn from your mistakes.

How to share your honest thoughts on peer review?

While you want to share your honest thoughts on a peer review, continue to be mindful of your coworker's feelings. Rather than solely highlighting their weaknesses, think of ways you can motivate them to do better. Always use professional and polite language, like you would in any other work-related correspondence.

Why do managers create peer review forms?

Since this form is anonymous, it gives you the chance to share your honest thoughts about your coworkers.

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Giving Feedback

  • Giving feedback is hard. Giving effective feedback can be even more challenging. Remember that your ultimate goal is to discuss what the authors would need to do in order to qualify for publication. The point is not to nitpick every piece of the manuscript. Your focus should be on pr…
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Before and After: Sample Reviewer Comments

  • Keeping in mind the guidelines above, how do you put your thoughts into words? Here are some sample “before” and “after” reviewer comments âś— Before “The authors appear to have no idea what they are talking about. I don’t think they have read any of the literature on this topic.” âś“ After “The study fails to address how the findings relate to previous research in this area. The authors …
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Suggested Language For Tricky Situations

  • You might find yourself in a situation where you’re not sure how to explain the problem or provide feedback in a constructive and respectful way. Here is some suggested language for common issues you might experience. What you think: The manuscript is fatally flawed. What you could say:“The study does not appear to be sound” or “the authors have missed something crucial”. W…
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Time to Submit The Review!

  • Be sure you turn in your report on time. Need an extension? Tell the journal so that they know what to expect. If you need a lot of extra time, the journal might need to contact other reviewers or notify the author about the delay.
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