It’s Not What It Looks Like: How Claims of Self-Publishing Bias in Legal Scholarship Are Exaggerated

27 Pages Posted: 28 May 2020 Last revised: 13 Oct 2022

See all articles by Michael Conklin

Michael Conklin

Angelo State University - Business Law; Texas A&M University School of Law

Date Written: April 29, 2020

Abstract

The unique transparency in law journal submissions invites criticism for both letterhead bias and self-publication bias. Letterhead bias is when editors use information about an author—prior publications, reputation, prestige of affiliated institution, etc.—as a proxy for article quality, thus adjusting the level of consideration given to their submission accordingly. Self-publishing bias is when student editors give preferential treatment to the submissions received by law professors at their same institution. Studies as early as 1983 have consistently and conclusively found that self-publishing rates among elite law schools can surpass 20%. However, the existence of high self-publishing rates does not necessarily prove self-publishing bias. This Article presents numerous, alternative explanations that do not implicate self-publishing bias. Unfortunately, current scholarship on the subject largely ignores these alternative explanations.

This Article also highlights problems with self-publication proponents’ claims. These include how claiming “disproportionate” self-publishing levels is flawed because there is no “correct” self-publishing level from which to judge a deviation, the implication that the merits of submissions are objectively measurable, how the alleged harms from self-publishing are frequently overstated, and how proposed reforms would be largely ineffective at addressing these problems. The novel arguments provided in this Article serve to fill glaring gaps in the literature, thus providing a more complete view of the issue.

Keywords: legal scholarship, self-publishing bias, letterhead bias, law journal submissions

Suggested Citation

Conklin, Michael, It’s Not What It Looks Like: How Claims of Self-Publishing Bias in Legal Scholarship Are Exaggerated (April 29, 2020). Quinnipiac Law Review, Vol. 39, 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3588957 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3588957

Michael Conklin (Contact Author)

Angelo State University - Business Law ( email )

United States

Texas A&M University School of Law ( email )

Tarrant County
United States

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