History of the Journal

The Queen's Law Journal (“QLJ”) is a fully refereed scholarly publication produced by a student editorial board under the direction of the Faculty Advisors. The Editorial Board generally consists of 12 senior editors and 11 associate editors. There are also approximately 40 volunteer editors. The QLJ has a well-established international readership and is among Canada's most highly respected law journals.
The Journal was established in 1968 as the Queen's Intramural Law Journal. The purpose of this periodical was to publish a selection of the best work written by law students at Queen's. In 1971, the title was changed to the Queen's Law Journal, reflecting a change in editorial policy. While it continued to publish student work, the QLJ began seeking contributions from academics and other members of the legal profession.
By the mid-1970s, the QLJ had evolved into its present form—a vehicle for scholarship by legal academics, practitioners, and law students. In time, the QLJ became a fully refereed publication. All submissions that pass the internal review process are subject to a double-blind external review by at least two experts in the relevant subject area.

Statement of Objectives

The objectives of the Queen's Law Journal are:

  1. To publish French and English scholarly legal research, analysis, and critical commentary on issues of concern to the Canadian legal community, but also of interest to the broader Canadian and international communities.
  2. To stimulate the production of high-quality legal research and scholarship, primarily by Canadian scholars and legal specialists.
  3. To promote diversity of opinion on a wide variety of issues by encouraging research on legal issues that draw on the insights and methodology of other social sciences, and by encouraging writing from persons who have traditionally been under-represented in legal journals.

Faculty Advisors

Between 1994 and 2014, Professor Emeritus and former Dean Bernie Adell served as the Faculty Advisor to the Queen's Law Journal. His dedication and passion to the QLJ, the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal, and the broader Queen's Law community over the past 50 years is unparalleled. During this time, Professor Adell was a mentor and an inspiration to all who worked with him on the QLJ. As the QLJ now enters a new chapter, Professor Adell 's guidance and memory will continue to shape the QLJ’s commitment to quality legal scholarship. On behalf of the QLJ community, we are grateful for all that Professor Adell taught us. He will be missed.

Professors Jean Thomas and Grégoire Webber have served as the Faculty Advisors to the Queen's Law Journal since 2015.