Members of The Elder Law Journal are full-time students in the College of Law who have been selected for membership through the annual Joint Writing Competition (JWC). Members with fewer than two semesters on ELJ (new members) are responsible for writing a note of publishable quality, attending weekly cite checks, pulling books, and completing a variety of other tasks as assigned by the Board of Editors. See our submissions page for more information on the student note.
Members who meet these demands will leave law school better equipped to meet the stringent standards of the professional world. Members who successfully complete all of their responsibilities in a timely manner receive one hour of academic credit per semester.
Membership Selection
After the close of the academic year, the Journal holds a Writing Competition to select new members for the coming academic year. The Competition is open to students who have completed at least one year of law school and are in good academic standing. After the Competition has ended, the Board evaluates each entry in the Competition and selects students for invitation who have, by their entries, demonstrated the skills and dedication necessary to become members.
For more resources and information about the Joint Writing Competition, visit the JWC website. Please note, the JWC site requires that you sign in with your valid College of Law netID and password before viewing.
A typical membership-selection season goes as follows:
March – Mock competition begins
April – Mandatory workshops
May – Writing competition begins
June – Writing competition ends
July – Membership offers extended
Associate Editors
Members continuing to serve on ELJ beyond two semesters, but who are not elected or appointed to an editorial post, are titled as Associate Editors. While holding no official duties, their continued membership (and the academic credit tied to such membership) rests on their continued participation in journal activities as requested by the Board.
Board of Editors
Responsibility for publication of The Elder Law Journal belongs to the Board of Editors. The voting Board consists of twelve elected officers: Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Executive Administrative Editor, Managing Notes Editor, 3 Notes Editors, 2 Articles Editors, and 2 Administrative Editors. The newly-elected Editor-in-Chief will appoint an Internet Editor and a Topics Editor.
Editor-in-Chief has final authority over all journal activities.
Managing Attorney has secondary authority over the production of the ELJ and ensures the prompt execution of various publication processes.
Executive Administrative Editor supervises cite checks, evaluates members’ editing prowess, and ensures cite check changes carry over to articles and notes.
Managing Notes Editor supervises the Notes Editors.
Notes Editors supervise the production of student notes.
Articles Editors solicit and serve as contacts for article authors as well as review and edit papers submitted as lead or recent development pieces.
Administrative Editors are responsible for the cite checking of the notes and articles; they also schedule cite checks and book pulls and perform mechanical edits.
Admissions Editor coordinates the JWC with the other publications.
Internet Editor is responsible for the ELJ’s web presence.
Topics Editor assists members with the development of their note topic.
Faculty & Staff
The Elder Law Journal receives advice and assistance from the journal’s Faculty Advisor, Administrative Assistant, and Journal Assistant. The current Faculty Advisor is Professor Richard Kaplan. The current Administrative Aide is Ms. Jennifer Duffy and the Journal Assistant is Ms. Quinita Balderson.
Faculty Advisor oversees practices and policies of the Board to ensure that the educational function of the ELJ is being fulfilled. The Faculty Advisor also gives advice on operating procedures when the Board needs such advice.
Administrative Aide and Assistant provide continuity in editorial and business practices and coordinate the business affairs of The Elder Law Journal and the University of Illinois Law Review.
More detailed information on membership can be found in the ELJ bylaws.