The staff of the Pepperdine Law Review is selected following successful completion of all first-year academic requirements and after Spring 1L grades have been conferred. There are two ways in which an applicant may apply for a journal at Pepperdine: (1) by “grading on,” or (2) via a grade-based writing competition. Applicants interested in joining the Pepperdine Law Review should indicate their desire to be specifically considered for the Law Review. Students who transfer to Pepperdine from another law school may apply for admission to a journal by participating in a similar, smaller scale writing competition, specifically tailored to transfer students.

Grading On

Upon receipt of final 1L grades, the Registrar’s Office automatically forwards the grade point averages of all applicants to the Law Review. The top ten percent of the incoming second-year class become grade-on candidates. These candidates are invited to complete a Bluebook exercise and may elect, in lieu of completing a case note, to write a Statement of Interest for admission consideration to the Law Review. Grading on does not guarantee selection but rather establishes eligibility for consideration without submitting a case note.

Write-On Competition

For those not grading on, applicants must complete a Bluebook exercise and write a case note on a pre-selected legal topic. Following the completion of the final exam period, the write-on competition rules and materials will be released to the students. Entries are judged on critical thinking and writing skills, including the applicant’s ability to synthesize the background material, the strength of the argument, and observance of proofreading processes and Bluebook rules. Both second- and third-year students are eligible to apply for membership. More information regarding the write-on competition is provided during each Spring semester.

Law Review