Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems

The Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems (JLSP), established in 1965, is one of the oldest legal publications at Columbia Law School. Since its founding, one of JLSP’s missions has been to remind its readers of the law’s responsibility to serve the public good. To that end, the Journal emphasizes the sociological, economic, and political impact of legal issues. As a result, JLSP’s target audience includes not only judges and lawyers but also Congress, state legislatures, regulatory agencies, and members of the public.

JLSP is the only Columbia Law journal that is entirely student-written. Thus, members have an excellent chance to publish a Note. Because JLSP is a general interest journal covering the broad area of “law and social problems,” it is a forum for students interested in several legal areas, in a legal area not covered by any other journal, or uncertain about their particular area of interest. This general interest publication is valued in the legal community, as is reflected by JLSP’s numerous citations in opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, federal district courts, and state supreme courts, as well as articles and treatises.