Prompt: In Kimble v. Marvel Entertainment, LLC, Justice Kagan underscored that “[a]ll our interpretive decisions, in whatever way reasoned, effectively become part of the statutory scheme.” 576 U.S. 446, 457 (2015). As the jurisprudence of statutory interpretation undergoes monumental changes, so too does the proper understanding of statutes themselves. Further, the rapidly evolving state of statutory legal frameworks not only presents novel challenges to the legal community, but also leads to pronounced impacts on the public. We are curious about innovations in statutory interpretation and would like to hear your novel thoughts on their upsides and drawbacks.

This topic is intentionally broad. A strong submission may trace overarching developments in the landscape of statutory interpretation, the effects on the interpretation of individual statutes, and/or the tangible consequences of shifting interpretive regimes. 

Rules: Each individual may submit no more than one piece, and submissions must be previously unpublished. Jointly-written pieces up to three authors will be accepted. Pieces do not need to be exclusively submitted to VLR Online during the competition window; however, if you choose to publish the piece elsewhere, you must inform VLR Online by emailing Online Development Editor Kevin Hoang (bga4jv@virginia.edu) within 24 hours of acceptance. Students may not receive advising from VLR Online or Notes advisors on their pieces. Pieces may reflect conversations and light comments from professors and other students. They should not, however, be heavily edited by anyone other than the author(s).

Length: Pieces published as part of the VLR Online Student Essay Competition are footnoted and must be no more than 7,000 words in length (including footnotes).

Deadline: All pieces must be submitted by October 25, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. 

Submission: Pieces must be emailed to vlronline_6bd2@sendtodropbox.com and valawrev.online@gmail.com in .docx format. The document must abide by these guidelines:

1. The document should include a cover page containing:
   • The title of the piece;
   • An abstract of 250 words or less; and
   • A word count for the piece, both with and without footnotes.
2. The file must be the [Piece Title], and the subject line of the email must be “VLR Online Essay Competition Submission”.
3. Any identifying information must be removed from the body of the document as well as the personal information embedded in the digital file by following the instructions below. This includes removing identifying information typically included at the beginning of a Note in a * footnote. Correctly following all instructions will maintain each author’s anonymity.
   •  Word 2010, 2013, 2016:
     • Go to File, select “Info”
     • Click on “Check for Issues”
     • Click on “Inspect Document”
     • In the dialog box, click “Remove All” and close box
     • Save document.
   • Word for Mac 2016, 2018: 
     • Go to Tools
     • Select “Protect Document” or select “Protect Document” button on Review tab
     • Save document.
4. In addition to the document above, all submissions must include the following information in a separate document, which is to be attached to the same email in .pdf format. The PDF should be titled “[Piece Title].Confidential”. This separate document should be a single page and include:
   • Your name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address;
   • The title of your submission; and
   • A signed statement (an electronic signature will be accepted) that your piece was not heavily edited by anyone other than the author(s).

Any questions should be directed to the Online Development Editor, Kevin Hoang (bga4jv@virginia.edu).

The post Virginia Law Review Online Student Essay Contest first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

1. The recommended length for a Note is 10,000–14,000 words including footnotes (approximately 35–40 pages in double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font). Notes longer than 14,000 words are strongly discouraged. Notes longer than 15,500 words will not be considered without prior approval of the Notes Development Editor. Students may not submit Notes shorter than 10,000 words without approval.
2. Submissions must be emailed to vlr_7f30@sendtodropbox.com in .docx format by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th. Please use double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font for the body of your submission. Please use single-spaced footnotes rather than endnotes for citations and references. Please use Bluebook style for your footnotes, rather than any other style guide.
3. The document must include the cover page, the file name must be the [Note Title], and the subject line of the email must be “October Notes Pool.” Please remove any identifying information from the body of the document as well as personal information embedded in the digital file by following the instructions below. This includes removing identifying information typically included at the beginning of a Note in a * footnote, such as class information, Notes Advisors, or professors that assisted in the drafting and editing of the submission. Correctly following all instructions will maintain each author’s anonymity.
   • In Word 2010, 2013, 2016: Go to File, select “Info”, click on Check for Issues”, click on “Inspect Document”. In the dialog box, click “Remove All” and close box. Save document.
   • In Word for Mac 2016, 2018: Go to Tools, select “Protect Document” or select “Protect Document” button on Review tab. Save document.
4. While your name should not appear on your submission, nor should any other identifying information, each copy should have an attached cover page which includes only the following pieces of information:
   • The title of your submission.
   • An abstract of approximately 250 words or fewer, single-spaced, which briefly summarizes the argument of your submission.
   • A table of contents.
   • A list of the five (5) secondary sources cited that are most related to your work. Please do not list cases or statutes.
   • The word count for your submission, both with and without footnotes.
   • If you are resubmitting a Note that you previously submitted to the Virginia Law Review, a brief description of any substantive changes that you made.

5. Though not required, it may also be advantageous to include a paragraph on the cover sheet, (or subsequent page, if necessary), that addresses the following criteria. This information may be especially useful if your note addresses a topic that is niche or not widely taught in the law school’s core curriculum.
   • A very brief summary of your topic’s doctrinal landscape and a clear articulation of your note’s central argument, including how your note advances existing scholarship.

6. Finally, in addition to the document above, all submissions must include in a SEPARATE DOCUMENT the following information, which must also be emailed to vlr_7f30@sendtodropbox.com in .pdf format. This document should be titled “[Title].Confidential” (e.g. “Breaking Bad Law.Confidential”). This separate document should be a single page and include:
   • Your name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address
   • The title of your Note
   • A signed statement (an electronic signature will be accepted) that your Note was substantially written during law school
   • The name(s) of the professor(s) with whom you worked when writing your Note

The results of the October Notes Pool will be announced at www.VirginiaLawReview.org. If you have any questions, please contact Notes Development Editor, Amy Vanderveer (fvu2tr@virginia.edu).

The post October Notes Pool first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

This competition is open to all law students (including LLMs) who are currently enrolled at UVA law. 

We will award cash prizes of $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place. (Subject to any applicable tax reporting and withholding requirements). The top submissions will also be published in a special online edition of the Virginia Law Review Online in the fall of 2024. All pieces must be submitted by August 1, 2024, at 11:59pm. 

Topic & Length: Students are invited to write and submit a case comment on any case heard at the United States Supreme Court during the October 2023 Term (concluding in the summer of 2024). Comments shall be no longer than 4,500 words, inclusive of footnotes. Please use double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font for the body of your submission. Please use single-spaced footnotes rather than endnotes for citations and references. All comments should be cited in proper Bluebook format. For an example of case comment structure, please see this comment published by the Harvard Law Review. A list of cases heard during the October 2023 term can be found here. 

Rules: Each individual may submit no more than one piece, and submissions must be previously unpublished. Jointly-written pieces up to two authors will be accepted. Students may not receive advising from VLR Online or the VLR Notes Department advisors on pieces submitted to the Competition. Pieces may reflect conversations and light comments from professors and other students. They should not, however, be edited by anyone other than the author(s). Consistent with VLR Bylaws for pieces of this length, authors of case comments selected for publication will not recieve an invitation of membership to the Virginia Law Review.

Deadline: All pieces must be submitted by August 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. 

Submission Instructions: Pieces must be emailed to valrnotes@gmail.com. 

The document must abide by these guidelines:

1. The document should include a cover page containing:
   • The title of the piece;
   • A word count for the piece, both with and without footnotes.
2. The file must be named with the title of the piece, and the subject line of the email must be “VLR Supreme Court Case Comment Competition”.
3. Any identifying information must be removed from the body of the document as well as the personal information embedded in the digital file by following the instructions below. This includes removing identifying information typically included at the beginning of a Note in a * footnote. Correctly following all instructions will maintain each author’s anonymity.
   • Word 2010, 2013, 2016:
     • Go to File, select “Info”
     • Click on “Check for Issues”
     • Click on “Inspect Document”
     • In the dialog box, click “Remove All” and close box
     • Save document.
   • Word for Mac 2016, 2018:
     • Go to Tools
     • Select “Protect Document” or select “Protect Document” button on Review tab
     • Save document.
4. In addition to the document above, all submissions must include the following information in a separate document, which is to be attached to the same email in .pdf format. The PDF should be titled “[Piece Title].Confidential”. This separate document should be a single page and include:
   • Your name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address;
   • The title of your submission; and
   • A signed statement (an electronic signature will be accepted) that your piece was not heavily edited by anyone other than the author(s).

Any questions should be directed to VLR’s Notes Development Editor, Amy Vanderveer (fvu2tr@virginia.edu).

The post Supreme Court Case Comment Competition: October Term 2023 first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

We welcome submissions on this topic from scholars, practitioners, activists, and law students. Submissions should range between 5,000 and 9,000 words.

Submissions are due by September 1 at 11:59 EST. Please email submissions in Microsoft Word format to valawrev.online@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read “Justice in Transition Symposium Submission.” Submissions should be in Times New Roman 12, should utilize footnotes instead of endnotes, and should have numbered pages. All submissions must include a copy of the manuscript and the author’s most recent resume or CV.

Accepted authors must be available to attend the Symposium in-person in Charlottesville on Friday, February 7. All traveling and lodging will be reimbursed.

Please reach out to VLR’s Online Development Editor, Kevin Hoang, at bga4jv@virginia.edu or VLR’s Editor-in-Chief, Courtney Capen Douglas, at ccdouglas@email.virginia.edu, with any questions. We look forward to reviewing your submissions!

The post Call for Submissions: Justice in Transition Online Symposium first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

Ethan Young

Constraining Legislative Expulsion

Nathaniel Glass

Partisan Emergencies: How the Judiciary Can Reign in Dubious Invocations of the National Emergencies Act

The post Accepted Pieces from the March 2024 Notes Pool first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

1. The recommended length for a Note is 10,000–14,000 words including footnotes (approximately 35–40 pages in double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font). Notes longer than 14,000 words are strongly discouraged. Notes longer than 15,500 words will not be considered without prior approval of the Notes Development Editor. Students may submit Notes shorter than 10,000 words without approval.
2. Please use Bluebook style for your footnotes, rather than any other style guide.
3. Submit SIX (6) physical copies of your submission to the Law Review office (SL 184) by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27^th. Please use double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font for the body of your submission. Please use single-spaced footnotes rather than endnotes for citations and references. You may print your Note on both sides of the page.
4. Your name should not appear on these six copies, nor should any other identifying information, but each copy should have an attached cover page which includes only the following pieces of information:
   • The title of your submission.
   • An abstract of approximately 250 words or fewer, single-spaced, which briefly summarizes the argument of your submission.
   • A table of contents.
   • A list of the five (5) secondary sources cited that are most related to your work. Please do not list cases or statutes.
   • The word count for your submission, both with and without footnotes.
   • If you are resubmitting a Note that you previously submitted to the Virginia Law Review, a brief description of any substantive changes that you made.
5. Though not required, it may also be advantageous to include a paragraph on the cover sheet, (or subsequent page, if necessary), that addresses the following criteria. This information may be especially useful if your note addresses a topic that is niche or not widely taught in the law school’s core curriculum.
   • A very brief summary of your topic’s doctrinal landscape and a clear articulation of your note’s central argument, including how your note advances existing scholarship.
6. Submit everything in one large manila envelope with the title of your Note on the outside. A box will be available outside SL 184.
7. All submissions must also be emailed to vlr_7f30@sendtodropbox.com in .docx format by the time the Pool closes. The document must include the cover page, the file name must be the [Note Title], and the subject line of the email must be “March Notes Pool.” Please remove any identifying information from the body of the document as well as personal information embedded in the digital file by following the instructions below. This includes removing identifying information typically included at the beginning of a Note in a * footnote, such as class information, Notes Advisors, or professors that assisted in the drafting and editing of the submission. Correctly following all instructions will maintain each author’s anonymity.
   • Word 2010, 2013, 2016: Go to File, select “Info”, click on Check for Issues”, click on “Inspect Document”. In the dialog box, click “Remove All” and close box. Save document.
   • Word for Mac 2016, 2018: Go to Tools, select “Protect Document” or select “Protect Document” button on Review tab. Save document.
8. In addition to the document above, all submissions must include in a SEPARATE DOCUMENT the following information, which is to be both emailed to vlr_7f30@sendtodropbox.com in .pdf format and placed in a SEPARATE ENVELOPE in the box. The separate envelope should be sealed and have “[Title], Confidential” written on the outside. The electronic copy should be titled “[Title].Confidential” (e.g. “Breaking Bad Law.Confidential”). This separate document should be a single page and include:
   • Your name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address
   • The title of your Note
   • A signed statement (an electronic signature will be accepted) that your Note was substantially written during law school
   • The name(s) of the professor(s) with whom you worked when writing your Note
9. For those eligible former students who are unable to physically submit a Note, it is not necessary to provide a hard copy, an online submission will suffice.

The results of the March Notes Pool will be announced at www.VirginiaLawReview.org. If you have any questions, please contact Notes Development Editor, Amy Vanderveer (fvu2tr@virginia.edu).

The post March 2024 Notes Pool first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

Casey P. Schmidt

Disrupting Election Day: Reconsidering the Purcell Principle as a Federalism Doctrine 

Alexander L. Chen

Sovereigns’ Interests and Double Jeopardy

Cameron Beach

The Case for City Reparations

The post Accepted Pieces from the January 2024 Notes Pool first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

To preserve anonymity, please do not use any personal identifiers in your answers. For example, instead of saying “as an engineer for Proctor & Gamble,” write “as an engineer at a large firm.” Or, instead of “I grew up in Chicago,” write “I grew up in a large city.” 

However, you are free to discuss identities, even if you are the only person with a particular intersection of identities. For example, even if you are the only queer Jewish woman in the 1L class, you are still permitted to discuss all three of those things in your responses. 

If you have questions about whether you can include something, please contact Mia Smutny at dyp8ku@virginia.edu. This will not violate anonymity, regardless of her answer, as she is the outgoing Membership Development Editor and therefore will not be reading personal statements.

Your personal statements should be formatted as follows:

• Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced and with 1” margins.
• The name of your document should be your Tryout Number followed by “VLR PS.” For example, if your number is 012, your document should be named “012 VLR PS” (be sure to use all three digits). Tryout numbers will be distributed on February 17th.
• Your document must be saved as a Microsoft Word document.
• Use the “Header” feature on Word to include your Tryout Number at the top right-hand corner of every page. You must include your Tryout Number at the top right-hand corner of every page of your statement.
• You must also include the word count for each of your responses. Do not go over the word count; the VLR Membership Selection Committee will take your adherence to tryout rules into account.
• Your statement should be entirely your work. You may not solicit feedback from others, whether or not they are students at the Law School.

Once you are completely done working, including adding your tryout number to your header, please remove all identifying information from your document before you submit it. To do this, please follow these instructions: 

• Word 2010, 2013, 2016: Go to File, select “Info,” click on “Check for Issues,” click on “Inspect Document.” In the dialog box, click “Remove All” and close box. Save document.
• Word for Mac 2016, 2018: Go to Tools, select “Protect Document.” Or click the “Protect Document” button on Review tab. Select “Remove personal information from this file on save.” Save document.

All answers are due by  Friday, March 15, at 11:59 pm, and should be submitted by emailing the document to BOTH journaltryoutsubmissions@gmail.com AND to uva_mb6f@sendtodropbox.com (note the underscore). The subject line must be: VLR Personal Statement

Please respond to all three prompts:

1. Virginia Law Review Editorial Board (EB) members edit scholarly pieces prior to publication by reviewing grammar, obtaining and substantiating sources, and Bluebooking pieces. After a year on EB, VLR members can apply to be on Managing Board. In addition to continuing to edit and substantiate pieces, Managing Board members work collaboratively with their respective departments to select scholarship for publication, set deadlines, and communicate with authors, as well as managing other aspects of the Law Review’s operations. Discuss how your unique experiences, perspectives, or skills would help you contribute in a meaningful way to the Virginia Law Review. (This may include, but is not limited to, your social identity, personal experiences, work experiences, or academic background.) (500 words or less)

2. Tell us about something you’re proud of. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250 words or less)

3. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you and why should others care about it? This can be a legal or nonlegal topic.(250 words or less) 

The post 2024 VLR Personal Statement Prompt first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

• Samantha Blond, “Cyber Vulnerabilities as Trade Secrets”
• Hayley Brower & Daniel McCray, “20/20 Hindsight and Looking Ahead: The Vision of the Five Eyes and What’s Next in the ‘Going Dark’ Debate”

Congratulations to the two winners! The Student Essay Contest focused on technological advances, how they have created or enhanced certain problems, and how the law may address these growing concerns. The competition was open to all current law students and recent graduates from the Class of 2020 through the Class of 2023 from any ABA-accredited American law school.

The 2023 Student Essay Contest saw more than double the number of submissions from the previous year, and the Virginia Law Review Online is grateful to all the contestants for their time and effort in researching and writing the article submissions.

The post Virginia Law Review Online Announces Winners of Fourth Student Essay Competition first appeared on Virginia Law Review.

1. The recommended length for a Note is 10,000–14,000 words including footnotes (approximately 35–40 pages in double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font). Notes longer than 14,000 words are strongly discouraged. Notes longer than 15,500 words will not be considered without prior approval of the Notes Development Editor. Students may submit Notes shorter than 10,000 words without approval.
2. Please use Bluebook style for your footnotes, rather than any other style guide.
3. Submit SIX (6) copies of your submission to the Law Review office (SL 184) by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9^th. Please use double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font for the body of your submission. Please use single-spaced footnotes rather than endnotes for citations and references. You may print your Note on both sides of the page.
4. Your name should not appear on these six copies, nor should any other identifying information, but each copy should have an attached cover page which includes only the following pieces of information:
   • The title of your submission.
   • An abstract of approximately 250 words or fewer, single-spaced, which briefly summarizes the argument of your submission.
   • A table of contents.
   • A list of the five (5) secondary sources cited that are most related to your work. Please do not list cases or statutes.
   • The word count for your submission, both with and without footnotes.
   • If you are resubmitting a Note that you previously submitted to the Virginia Law Review, a brief description of any substantive changes that you made.
5. Submit everything in one large manila envelope with the title of your note on the outside. A box will be available outside SL 184.
6. All submissions must be emailed to vlr_7f30@sendtodropbox.com in .docx format by the time the Pool closes. The document must include the cover page, the file name must be the [Note Title], and the subject line of the email must be “January Notes Pool.” Please remove any identifying information from the body of the document as well as personal information embedded in the digital file by following the instructions below. This includes removing identifying information typically included at the beginning of a Note in a * footnote, such as class information, Notes Advisors, or professors that assisted in the drafting and editing of the submission. Correctly following all instructions will maintain each author’s anonymity.
   • Word 2010, 2013, 2016: Go to File, select “Info”, click on Check for Issues”, click on “Inspect Document”. In the dialog box, click “Remove All” and close box. Save document.
   • Word for Mac 2016, 2018: Go to Tools, select “Protect Document” or select “Protect Document” button on Review tab. Save document.
7. In addition to the document above, all submissions must include in a SEPARATE DOCUMENT the following information, which is to be both emailed to vlr_7f30@sendtodropbox.com in .pdf format and placed in a SEPARATE ENVELOPE in the box. The separate envelope should be sealed and have “[Title], Confidential” written on the outside. The electronic copy should be titled “[Title].Confidential” (e.g. “Breaking Bad Law.Confidential”). This separate document should be a single page and include:
   • Your name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address.
   • The title of your Note.
   • A signed statement (an electronic signature will be accepted) that your Note was substantially written during law school.
   • The name(s) of the professor(s) with whom you worked when writing your Note.
8. For those eligible former students who are unable to physically submit a Note, it is not necessary to provide a hard copy, an online submission will suffice.
9. Please be advised that to “Note On” to the Virginia Law Review, a student must have their work accepted before March 1^st of their final year. The January 2024 Notes Pool will be the last opportunity for graduating 3Ls to Note On through this process (the Online Department will still accept submissions prior to March 1^st). 

The results of the January Notes Pool will be announced at www.VirginiaLawReview.org.  If you have any questions, please contact Harrison Gordon (wdd5ke@virginia.edu). 

The post January 2024 Notes Pool first appeared on Virginia Law Review.