Volume 52 Write-On Process

By registering, you will receive all necessary materials for the MHLR Write-On via email, giving you the opportunity to join Volume 52 of Mitchell Hamline Law Review. While you may withdraw at any time, registering ensures that you receive the essential information and materials to participate and potentially become a Law Review Associate.

Write-On registration will close on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST.

The Write-On Process will take place over eleven days, from Wednesday, May 21 to Sunday, June 1, 2025. Registrants will receive further details via email later this spring. The application will include a Bluebook Citation Quiz, a Case Note Outline, and a Personal Statement.

Bluebook Citation Quiz
The Bluebook Quiz is designed to evaluate applicants’ ability to correct citations and verify that citations accurately support the assertions they reference. It consists of 20 citation corrections and 20 multiple-choice authority-checking questions.

Case Note Outline
Applicants will analyze a recent Minnesota Supreme Court case using a provided packet of supporting materials—no outside research required. Rather than writing a full case note, applicants will submit an outline and abstract, showcasing their thesis development and argument organization. 

Personal Statement
The Personal Statement allows applicants to showcase their interest in Law Review and what they will contribute to the team. In 400–600 words, applicants will articulate why they want to join Law Review and how their skills, experiences, and perspectives will enhance the publication. This component evaluates both writing ability and the applicant’s potential to contribute meaningfully to the Law Review community.

Applicants must submit the Bluebook Citation Quiz, Case Note Outline, and Personal Statement prior to the June 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST deadline.

For more information, please attend the below sessions and/or email the Volume 52 Notes and Comments Lead Editor at tara.westerlund@mitchellhamline.edu.  

Write-On Accommodations

Students with disabilities who would like to request accommodations should contact Allison Quinn, Director of Disability and Student Services in the Dean of Students office. Students will be asked to complete an accommodation request form and meet with the Director of Disability and Student Services to discuss their request.

We ask for requests for accommodations to be submitted, by May 14, 2025, at least 14 days prior to the write-on.

For more information, contact Allison Quinn by email at allison.quinn@mitchellhamline.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mitchell Hamline Law Review? 

• The Mitchell Hamline Law Review is a student organization that publishes academic legal articles written by practitioners, professors, and students. It is often cited in judicial opinions – a testament to the relevancy of its topics and the quality of its work product. 

Who is involved in Law Review? 

• The Law Review is run by a Board of Editors that consists of students who initially joined Law Review as Associates. Their responsibilities include selecting articles for publication, managing the editorial process, organizing our annual symposium, managing the write-on process, and helping Associates write their long paper. 
• Associates assist the editorial process by conducting authority checks and proof reading assigned articles. All associates must write an article during their time on Law Review, which satisfies the “long paper” requirement for graduation. For their services, Associates earn 3 pass/fail academic credits for the school year. 
• The Law Review‘s faculty advisor is Professor Michael K. Steenson. 

Who is eligible to be an Associate? 

• Any student who has completed one year of studies, is in good academic standing, and will not graduate before May 2026 is eligible to be an Associate on Volume 52. Students may be enrolled in any program—BAM or Blended, full-time or part-time—and need not be located in the Twin Cities. 

How do I become an Associate? 

• Students join Law Review by participating in the Write-On Process.

What happens during the Write-On Process? 

• The Write-On Process consists of three tasks designed to evaluate your ability to think and write like a member of the Law Review. These three tasks are the Bluebook Citation Quiz, a Case Note Outline, and Personal Statement. More information on these tasks is included below. 
• Once the Process has closed, Board members will grade the Case Notes Outlines, the Bluebook Citation Quizzes, and Personal Statements. All grading is anonymous. Participants who receive the highest combined score for their Case Note Outline, Bluebook Citation Quiz, and Personal Statement will be invited to join Volume 52.
• Additionally, all participants will be asked to complete a short survey at the close of the Write-On Process. 

How do I access the Write-On Handbook?

• The Write-On Handbook for Vol. 52 will be posted here once it is published.

What is the Bluebook quiz and how do I prepare for it? 

• The Bluebook Citation Quiz contains twenty endnote citations and twenty authority check questions. You must correct each endnote according to the twenty-first edition of the Bluebook and the Chicago Manual of Style. 
• There is no one right way to prepare for the Bluebook Citation Quiz. Since the Quiz will likely contain citations that are unfamiliar to you, it is best to familiarize yourself with the Bluebook’s index and the table of contents and to look over sections of the Bluebook that you are unfamiliar with. Additionally, you can prepare by reviewing the citation rules that you have learned in your legal research and writing class. 
• If you do not have a copy of the Bluebook, you are not required to purchase a copy for the Write-On Process. Access to Mitchell Hamline Law Review’s online Bluebook account will be made available to you. We will provide more details before the process begins. Lastly, the Library has a page with resources and tips that may help you when dealing with Bluebook questions. 
• Please plan on attending our Bluebook information session or watch the recording for additional information.

What is a case note outline and how do I write one? 

• The Volume 52 Board will host a Write-On Information Session during which a Mitchell Hamline professor will discuss the process of writing a case note outline and will answer any student questions. Board members will go over Bluebook citation form and the Personal Statement during this time as well. 
• If you are unable to attend live training sessions, please review the recorded sessions.

Can I get help during the Write-On? 

• You can direct any questions you may have about the Write-On Process to Volume 52’s Notes & Comments Lead Editor at tara.westerlund@mitchellhamline.edu. The Notes & Comments Editors can provide general guidance on competition procedural issues, but they will not answer substantive questions. You may not submit written portions of your application to the Notes & Comments Editors. 
• Additionally, the NCEs will host tech support Zoom sessions throughout the Write-on Process. This is an opportunity to verify all technological aspects of Write-On are working. NCEs will not discuss any substantive questions. One applicant will be admitted at a time to the Zoom call so please wait in the waiting room until an NCE admits you to the call.
  • Dates of sessions will be announced closer to Write-On!
• Zoom link for all sessions:
  • Zoom link will be posted here.

Do my grades or other qualifications factor into the Associate selection process? 

• No. The Write-On Process is completely anonymous and no information about your grades or other qualifications is collected. Only the Notes & Comments Editors will know which students have signed up for the Write-On Process. The Notes & Comments Editors will assign each participant an anonymous ID, and they will not grade any Bluebook quizzes or case note outlines. 

Will Associates be published in MHLR Volume 52?  

• All associates must write an article during their time on Law Review, which satisfies the “long paper” requirement for graduation. These papers will be considered for publication in the Law Review.  

What happens if I’m not selected? 

• You are welcome to try again for Volume 53 if you meet the eligibility requirements for that Volume (such as not graduating before May 2027). You may also consider participating in other journals at Mitchell Hamline; some select staff members before Law Review, and some do so after. 
• For students who are not selected, the Write-On submissions are their property. Students may revise their case notes and attempt to have them published elsewhere. 
   

Clarification for Write-On Applicants Participating in OCI

• We understand that the Write-On competition may overlap with the On-Campus Interview (OCI) application process. Employers have indicated that students may either:
  • Note in their OCI application that they are currently in the process of writing on to Law Review, and/or
  • Update their application once they receive Write-On results.
• Employers often view journal membership as a valuable credential, so we encourage applicants to take advantage of these options. If you have any questions about a specific employer’s process, we recommend reaching out to them directly.