Students for the Promotion of International Law (SPIL), Mumbai
A student organisation based in Government Law College, Mumbai
Welcome to the Call for Papers for SPIL Mumbai's GLC-SPIL International Law Journal (ILJ). We invite submissions from law students, academicians, researchers, and legal professionals globally, providing an esteemed platform to contribute original, thought-provoking insights into international law. Our journal is a double-blind, peer-reviewed, open access publication dedicated to advancing legal scholarship, with contributions spanning areas such as international human rights, environmental law, trade, taxation, arbitration, and more.
Each published paper receives broad visibility within the academic and legal communities, reaching students, practitioners, and scholars worldwide. By contributing, you join a distinguished network committed to fostering global legal understanding and advocacy.
Aim and Scope
The primary aim of the SPIL Mumbai's GLC-SPIL International Law Journal (ILJ) is to foster a deeper understanding of international law by encouraging the production and dissemination of high-quality, original research that contributes to both academic inquiry and practical application. The Journal aspires to serve as a nexus for academics, practitioners, and policymakers to examine and debate contemporary legal developments, thereby furthering discourse that is not only reflective but also impactful on the practice and evolution of international law.
The thematic scope of the Journal varies annually, responding to emerging trends and critical issues that shape the global legal landscape. Notwithstanding its thematic shifts, the Journal remains committed to encompassing a wide spectrum of topics within international law. The scope extends to, but is not limited to, areas such as public international law, human rights, international trade and investment law, environmental law, humanitarian law, conflict resolution, transnational crime, and the law of international organisations.
Submission Categories
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Articles: 6000 to 10000 words exclusive of footnotes and bibliography.
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Essays: 4000 to 6000 words exclusive of footnotes and bibliography.
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Case Notes and/or Legislative Commentaries: 1500 to 3000 word exclusive of footnotes and bibliography.
Access the brochure of the current edition for more information
Correspondence
All correspondences must be addressed to:
The Chief Managing Editor,
SPIL Mumbai, Government Law College, Mumbai,
'A' Rd. Churchgate, Mumbai - 400020
Email: ilj.spilmumbai@gmail.com
Submission of Manuscripts
All manuscripts must be mailed at the below given email address. Manuscripts submitted elsewhere except the given address shall be deemed not received.
Email: ilj.spilmumbai@gmail.com
Access the brochure of the current edition for more information
Submission Guidelines
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Manuscripts must be attached in either ‘.doc’ or ‘.docx’ format. The document must be renamed as per the chosen topic.
- Manuscripts must be accompanied by a separate document containing the following information:
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Full Name of the Author (s)
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Chosen Topic
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Title of the Article
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Name and Address of College/Institute/University
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Programme Enrolled & Current Year of Study
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Email Address & Contact Number of the Author (s)
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Full Postal Address of the Author (s)
Brief bio of the Author (s)
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Access the brochure of the current edition for more information
Paper Presentation
Author (s) of top manuscripts recommended by the Editorial Board are invited to present their paper during our flagship event - the Government Law College International Law Summit.
Access the brochure of the current edition for more information
Miscellaneous
The author (s) agree to indemnify SPIL, Mumbai against all claims, suits, and damages based on allegations of copyright infringement, plagiarism, or unauthorised use.
Any proven copyright infringement/plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
SPIL, Mumbai retain the right to recall any published manuscript if it is later discovered that the submitted manuscript suffered from copyright infringement/plagiarism.
The manuscript will be considered the property of the SPIL, Mumbai, which reserves the right to publish it as deemed appropriate.
In situations not explicitly covered by the herein, the decision of SPIL, Mumbai shall be final and binding.
General Guidelines
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The entries are open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students, industry practitioners, academicians and research scholars.
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Submissions may be authored, by a maximum of 2 authors.
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Each individual or team, is allowed only one submission.
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Both co-authored and single submissions will be treated as separate entries. Submissions falling into both categories will be disqualified.
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Submissions must constitute the original work of the author (s). The plagiarism limit is 10% (excluding footnotes). Any submission beyond the plagiarism limit will be disqualified.
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Each entry must be the previously unpublished work of the author (s). Manuscripts that have been published elsewhere or selected/submitted for publication elsewhere will be disqualified.
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NO part of the article should contain any form of identification of the participant, such as the author’s name, university/college name, etc. Inclusion of any form of identification will result in disqualification.
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All submissions must be written in English.
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The manuscript must include an abstract, with a maximum limit of 300 words, exclusive of the overall word limit. The abstract should clearly indicate the chosen topic of the manuscript.
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Citations and footnotes must follow the Harvard Bluebook (20th edition) (LINK) referencing style.
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Avoid the use of extensive footnotes or quotations. It is acceptable to reference or paraphrase thoughts and ideas from standard works without using quotations, provided proper acknowledgement is given in footnotes or other suitable methods.
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Before being accepted for publishing in the Journal, every manuscript will undergo a double-blind, peer-review process. Failure to pass the review process will result in the disqualification of the manuscript.
Formatting Guidelines
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Abstract and Body:
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Font: Times New Roman
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Font Size: 12
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Line Spacing: 1.5
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- Footnotes:
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Font: Times New Roman
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Font Size: 10
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Line Spacing: 1.0
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Margins:
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All margins should be set to 1 inch or 2.54 cm on all sides.
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Note: Manuscripts not following the above formatting guidelines will be disqualified.
Publication Policies
The GLC-SPIL International Law Journal (ILJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and research ethics. Authors are strongly encouraged to adhere to the Publishing Ethics Policy to ensure the quality and credibility of the submissions.
Submissions that do not align with these ethical standards may be returned or declined. While we aim to provide constructive feedback on all submissions, due to the high volume we receive, this may not always be feasible. The Journal reserves the right to decline submissions without detailed feedback when necessary.
The GLC-SPIL International Law Journal (ILJ) takes copyright infringement, plagiarism, and other ethical breaches in publication very seriously. Protecting the intellectual property rights of our authors, as well as the journal’s reputation, is paramount. All submissions may be screened for duplication and potential plagiarism using specialised software. If a manuscript is found to contain plagiarised material, improperly cited third-party content, or faces issues of disputed authorship, the Journal reserves the right to take corrective action. This may include publishing corrections, retracting the article, notifying the author's institution or relevant academic authorities, or, where necessary, pursuing appropriate legal action.
Authors should also note that if a submission to GLC-SPIL International Law Journal (ILJ) has been accepted elsewhere, it must be withdrawn from consideration here, and if accepted by us, it must be withdrawn from all other journals and platforms. The Journal does not permit cross-posting of accepted or published articles, and failure to comply may result in removal of the manuscript from consideration for publication in the ILJ.
Acceptance and Publication
Author (s) shall receive a notification of acceptance once we receive the manuscript.
Once accepted, submissions undergo a preliminary review by the Editorial Board to ensure alignment with the Journal’s standards and thematic focus. If a manuscript is deemed suitable, it progresses to a thorough double-blind peer review, where independent experts assess its academic quality and contribution to the field. Final acceptance is determined by the outcome of this peer review process.
Upon completing the review, the corresponding author will be informed of the decision. Author (s) should anticipate making any necessary revisions as suggested by the Editorial Board to meet the standards required for publication.
Approved articles, once ready, are published in a formal issue.