Publication Process

USFQ Law Review employs for its publication the Open Journal Systems (OJS), developed by Public Knowledge Project (PKP). This system guarantees the registration of the entire editorial process, from the reception of papers to their publication. Only the papers received through this platform are subject to the Publication Process. More information on the Periodicity and Proccesing of articles is available.

USFQ Law Review"™s Publication Process begins with the reception of the paper and is composed of three editorial phases prior to publication.

Reception of the Paper

In order to assure quality standards as well as an impartial process, USFQ Law Review receives papers anonymously, following the author"™s submission through the Open Journal Systems (OJS). Additionally, authors must submit their papers via Google Forms, in order to store their work in case of potential failures of the OJS. Instruction manuals for both submission procedures are available.

Before the first submission and all submissions following the paper"™s edition, authors are responsible for making sure that the paper, the file containing it and all annexes to the submission do not contain information that could allow their identification. To anonymize their submissions, authors must follow all the procedures detailed in the Instructions for Protection of Anonymity, as well as all additional procedures considered necessary to maintain their identity anonymous till the phase of edition for publication.

By submitting their papers, authors accept all policies, rights and obligations established by USFQ Law Review and USFQ Press.

With the reception of the paper through the OJS, the Editorial Committee begins the first phase of the Publication Process.

1. Admission Phase

The Admission Phase is comprised of three moments. First, the Editorial Committee conducts internally a preliminary revision of the article to decide on its admission to the Publication Process. The paper is revised by two editorial groups. These groups verify the article"™s compliance with USFQ Law Review"™s format and style publication criteria and create reports with their observations. Then, the Editorial Committee as a whole decides on the admission of the article. Finally, the authors are informed of this decision and the reports are sent to them.  

In case of admission, the author proceeds to edit the article in order to comply with the preliminary revision"™s comments. Subsequently, the author must submit the updated paper through the OJS.

In the event of inadmissibility, the author may edit the article in order to meet the publication criteria commented in this first revision and submit it within one of the next calls for papers.

2. Peer Review Phase

This phase is comprised of three moments. First, the article "”that results from the post-admission edition "” is submitted to the double-blind peer review system. The External Peer Reviewers (EPR) verify that the paper meets the substantive criteria for the publication of papers; consequently, EPR present reports with suggestions and their advice on the publishability of the article. Then, based on the reports of the peer review and the advice of the Editorial Committee, the Editorial Directors make a discretionary, motivated, and final decision on the article's publishability. Finally, authors are notified about the final decision and the review reports are sent to them.

If the paper is publishable, the author proceeds with an additional edition in order to improve it. Although it is at the discretion of the writer to adopt the recommendations made by the EPR, it must be considered that these observations are intended to improve the quality of the paper. After editing, the author submits the improved document through the OJS.

If the paper is not publishable, the author maintains the possibility to improve it and send it again in an upcoming call.

3. Editorial Phase for Publication

Lastly, the document that resulted from the improvement recommendations undergoes a final revision and style edition for its publication. The Editorial Comittee carries out this process. Once the edition is completed, the Editorial Directors send the final version of the article to USFQ Press, which is USFQ Law Review"™s publisher, for the editorial design and publication.

Editorial Design

The final version of the article enters an editorial design process which generally includes the pre-press graphics proyect, press and post-press. Once this process is completed, the article is published in accordance with USFQ Law Review and USFQ press policy.

With its Ethics Code and the regulation of policies and processes, USFQ Law Review promotes good editorial and scientific investigation practices. Since USFQ Law Review belongs to the institutional framework of Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, its journals and monographic series are also regulated by the USFQ Honor and Coexistence Code, specially by its 2^nd Title: Investigation and Creativity Ethics.

Refer to section Information for Authors for practical information and documents necessary to comply with the different requirements of this Editorial Process.