These guidelines explain what the journal considers, how to prepare a manuscript, and what happens after a paper is accepted. Submissions are made through the online form, and every author receives an acknowledgment with a private link for tracking the work’s progress.
What we consider
We welcome original work in the natural law tradition across philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence: full-length articles, brief peer responses of about 1,500 words that engage a published article, and case studies for the standing session. The journal publishes in English only. A submission must be your own original work, not previously published, and not under consideration at another journal.
Preparing your manuscript
- Format. Submit a Microsoft Word document (.docx).
- Citations. Use Chicago author-date style throughout, with a reference list.
- Abstract. Include an abstract of no more than 150 words.
- Keywords. Supply a short set of keywords.
- Length. Articles run from a minimum of 4,500 words to a firm upper limit of 15,000, excluding notes and references, with a preference for work under 8,000. Manuscripts at either extreme are held to a higher standard, and unusual length should be justified by the strength of the argument. Peer responses run about 1,500 words.
Articles are reviewed double-anonymized. Before submitting an article, remove your name from the document and its file properties, and phrase references to your own work so they do not reveal your identity. Responses and comments are reviewed single-anonymized and need not be anonymized in the same way.
Submitting
Use the journal’s submission form. You will give the corresponding author’s details and may add optional information such as an ORCID, suggested reviewers, or a cover note. On receipt you will get an email acknowledgment and a private link that shows the current stage of review.
Review
Each submission is first read by the editor for fit and then, if it proceeds, sent for peer review. The full process, including the criteria and the timeline, is described on the peer review page.
After acceptance
On acceptance you will sign the publishing agreement of The Catholic University of America Press, under which copyright is held by the Press. The Press then handles copyediting, typesetting, proofs, and publication on Project MUSE, where each article receives a DOI. We will ask for a mailing address at this stage. See the copyright and permissions page for details on rights and reuse.
Fees
There are no submission or publication charges. Publication is funded through subscriptions.
Ethics
Authors are expected to meet the standards set out in the journal’s publication ethics statement, including originality, proper attribution, disclosure of conflicts, and the obligation not to submit the same work elsewhere while it is under review here.
Contact
Questions are welcome at JNL@francis.edu.
Journal policies
Aims & Scope · Author Guidelines · Peer Review · Publication Ethics · Copyright · Privacy · Editorial Board · Reviewer Guidelines