Journal Tryouts

With journal tryouts officially starting this weekend, and so many conflicting pieces of advice out there, it can feel a bit overwhelming. On top of that, there have been plenty of events to help guide you through the process, so you're probably hearing a lot of different takes on what you should be doing. Here’s a couple of extra tips and tricks to help you get through the upcoming weekends:

First, when you’re working on the editing component, focus on over-correcting rather than under-correcting. You won’t be penalized for correcting things that were not errors so add in whatever you can!

Personal statements should be short and to the point—don’t feel like you need to write a well-constructed story like you might for law school applications. Just focus on why you’re excited to contribute to the particular journal and your experiences that align with those goals.

It may be helpful to look at some legal scholarship footnotes, too. They play a big role in academic writing and may help you familiarize yourself with the writing style.

Also, don’t forget to request your online Bluebook NOW! It can take a couple of days to process, so it’s better to get that squared away early.

If you feel like practicing Bluebooking beforehand, go for it! But know that it’s not absolutely necessary. Though it is advised to at least tab your Bluebook. Ultimately, the most important thing is to be yourself and approach the process with confidence.

Lastly, if you discover that Bluebooking isn’t your thing, no worries—many of UVA’s secondary journals offer managing positions that don’t require heavy cite-checking. These can be a great way to stay involved with legal scholarship without the parts you don’t enjoy.

Good luck this weekend, and remember: take it one step at a time. You’ve got this!