Call for Papers: Epoch: Going Beyond a Racial Reckoning

Seattle University’s Law Review and Black Law Student Association are excited to announce their first annual partnership symposium dedicated to uplifting and amplifying Black voices and ideas within the legal community: the Spotlight Symposium. This inaugural Spotlight Symposium’s theme is Epoch: Going Beyond a Racial Reckoning.

Epoch is defined as a period of time in history, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics. An epoch is the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something. The year 2020 has thrust racial inequity into the collective consciousness of the country. The global pandemic and impending economic depression have highlighted the disparate impacts of systemic inequities on Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. The murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd ignited a summer uprising and a belated reckoning around anti-Black racism.

The events of 2020 have provided another opportunity for us all to scrutinize and examine systems perpetuating racism. The goal of this year’s Spotlight Symposium is to be intentional about what comes next. We expect  the symposium will provide the historical context for the current moment, highlight race equity efforts across the legal field, and reimagine a future where the legal landscape is centered around race equity and anti-racism.

The symposium will cover a full day with the hope that authors will participate in the entirety of the symposium and will present their articles in panel sessions. Confirmed symposium speakers and panelists will be announced in the coming months, including a special keynote address.
The symposium transcript and articles will be published by the Seattle University Law Review in spring 2021.

If your work and passions align with the goals of our inaugural Spotlight Symposium, Epoch: Going Beyond a Racial Reckoning, we highly encourage you to submit an abstract or preliminary draft of your article. Those wishing to submit an article for consideration must send an abstract or article draft by December 31st, 2020. We will complete our publication offers by February 1st, 2021.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why submit an article to be published in the Epoch Symposium issue?

 We are proud to announce, for the first time since the inception of both Seattle University’s Law Review and Black Law Student Association, that our organizations have partnered to create an annual symposium focused on amplifying the work and contributions of Black authors, professionals, and thought leaders. The Epoch Symposium is the inaugural issue of this new collaboration, which will continue to grow into a platform focused on championing equity in all its meaning. This endeavor is not only symbolic of change but is also a medium to effectuate change. This partnership presents a unique opportunity for those involved to spotlight the Black experience in all its range. We look forward to your contributions and to a more equitable future.

Why publish with Seattle University Law Review? 

 At its core, Seattle University Law Review (“Law Review”) strives to embody the Seattle University School of Law’s mission to educate powerful advocates for justice. Law Review is dedicated to publishing high quality scholarship that both contributes to the advancement of critical and relevant legal discussion and features legal contributions from a broad spectrum of perspectives. Law Review provides our authors with a first-rate publishing experience and highly qualified editors who strive for excellence in their editing, legal research, and academic writing.

U.S. News & World Report has consistently recognized Seattle University School of Law as having the top legal writing program in the nation, and the most recent report has again ranked us in the top three. Additionally, Law Review is ranked among the nation’s top 100 law journals largely because of our significant online presence and outreach efforts, which result in increased citation to authors’ articles. Our business and marketing team also ensure that practitioners, professors, and alumni receive a printed copy of your article.

If I publish my article with Seattle University Law Review, will I be required to present at the symposium? 

No, authors are not required to present their article at the symposium, though we do encourage you to do so! Authors may participate in the symposium as a panelist or as a guest. The symposium will include speakers and panelists who are not publishing articles but are experts in their respective fields.

How do I submit my abstract or drafted article?

 Please send all submissions or related questions to LawReview2@seattleu.edu. All submissions must include “Epoch Symposium” in the subject line.

On behalf of Seattle University’s Law Review and Black Law Student Association: