Peer Review Policy

Review process

1. 1

   Initial editorial screening (5–10 working days)

   Every submission is checked for scope fit, originality (plagiarism screening), formatting compliance and basic academic quality. Manuscripts failing this stage are desk-rejected with reasons.

2. 2

   Peer review (3–6 weeks)

   Manuscripts passing screening are sent to a minimum of two independent reviewers selected for subject-matter expertise. Reviewers must hold a postgraduate qualification in law or a cognate field and have a demonstrable research record.

3. 3

   Editorial decision

   On receipt of reviews, the handling editor recommends Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. Where reviewers materially disagree, a third reviewer is appointed and the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision.

4. 4

   Revision and re-review

   Revised manuscripts are checked against reviewer comments; major revisions may be returned to the original reviewers.

5. 5

   Final acceptance and publication

   Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting and proofing before online publication. Received and Accepted dates are recorded and displayed on every published article.

No guarantee of acceptance

Submission to IJCLSI does not guarantee acceptance. All manuscripts undergo independent peer review and may be rejected at screening or after review. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, originality, scope fit and ethical compliance. Payment of any fee never influences, and never guarantees, an editorial decision.

Typical timeline

Screening decision: within 10 working days of submission. First review decision: within 6–8 weeks of submission. Authors may contact the editorial office for status updates after these periods.

Appeals

Authors may appeal a rejection in writing within 30 days to editor@ijclsi.com, stating academic grounds. Appeals are handled under the Complaints and Appeals Policy on the Publication Ethics page.